Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Research Articles

DIVERSITY OF ANT FAUNA IN 30 KM RADIUS OF KUDANKULAM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AREA, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

A detailed study on the ground dwelling ant diversity was carried around 30 km radius of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant area, Tamil Nadu, India during 2011-2012. Pit-fall trap, bait trap and hand-picking methods were used to collect ants from core Zone, buffer Zone I and Buffer zone II and three habitat (sandy area, garden area and plain area), in a sampling sites. A total of 33 species, 18 genera, and 5 subfamilies of ants were recorded. The Formicinae were the most common, with 7 genera and 15 species, followed by the Myrmicinae (6 genera and 10 species), the Ponerinae (4 genera and 5 species) and the Pseudomyrmecinae was represented by only 1 Genera species and 3 species. The six most species rich genera were Camponotus, Paratrechina, Monomorium, Tetraponera, Pheidole and Leptogenys. Higher species abundance is due to the habitat heterogeneity is an important factor to determine the species distribution in the study area. Conservationists should take consider to conserve the ant fauna diversity for there are many direct and indirect contribution on earth.

МЕЖДУНАРОДНО-ПРАВОВОЕ РЕГУЛИРОВАНИЕ СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА РОССИИ И ИНДИИ В ОБЛАСТИ МИРНОГО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ АТОМНОЙ ЭНЕРГИИ

This article explores a framework for cooperation between Russia and India in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy with a view to providing a comprehensive analysis of the international legal acts in this field. The scientific novelty of the research is a reflection of the fact that it is the study in which international legal framework concerning cooperation between Russia and India in the field of nuclear energy are summarized, systematized and analyzed. It is mentioned that the Moscow-New Delhi relationship is based upon mutual needs: Indian energy needs and Russian strategic economic needs. The main agreements for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy are the Kudankulam nuclear agreement (1988) and the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the uses of atomic energy for peaceful purposes (2010). The legal acts on cooperation in the construction of additional nuclear power plant units at Kudankulam site are of special importance. The article finds, moreover, that the increasing of the number of reactors in the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has been expanding the India-Russian long-term partnership. India continues to view the expansion of its civilian nuclear sector as a critical element in the field of industry and decarbonization. In this regard, developing alternate nuclear fuel resources and civil nuclear cooperation agreements between Russia and India should be concluded.

Analysis of cyber nuclear terrorism by DTrack consequences in the civilian nuclear power plant

ABSTRACT It is investigated for the nuclear security following the cyber terrorism of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (KNPP) in Tamil Nadu, India. The relationship between arbitrary data and the invasion scenario is analyzed by the designed algorithms. In the study, the system dynamics (SD) can be used for the non-linear matters in the terrorism. There are two kinds of results in this modeling. The data are classified as the standard deviation as Data1 with ‘one-sigma’ (Current) and Data1 with ‘three-sigma’ (Current1). The peak value is in the 67th year which is compared with the value in the 62nd year where the normalized value is obtained. So, the higher standard deviation value makes the later peak data of the 67th year. The other kinds of logics such as the loop formula could give the other results with the designed meanings. The expert intend could show the importance of the modeling in the work.

Study of Options for Optimization of the Configuration of Hydraulic Structures in the Coastal Zone of Nuclear Power Plants by Methods of Numerical Hydrothermal Simulation

Results of numerical hydrothermal simulation of the thermal regimes in the design of the external cooling systems of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant (Turkey) and the Kudan Kulam nuclear power plant (India), both of which are situated on the sea coast, are set forth. The STREAM 3D software package for calculation of the three-dimensional fields of stratified flows and temperatures in a hydrostatic approximation are used in the investigations. Different ways of optimizing the thermal regimes and configurations of coastal hydraulic structures by means of which the temperature in the water intakes of a nuclear power plant and in the adjacent body of water may be reduced to levels that satisfy the regulatory requirements are proposed.

The digitalia of everyday life

The article considers the transmissions and effects of a digital letter, and its implications for multi-situated—as opposed to a multi-sited—anthropology. Multi-situated moves beyond multiple sites as supplementary contexts to the life flows of people, materials, and ideas, to consider multi-ontological, dynamic, and temporally contingent situations constitutive of such movements in the making, that are embedded and/or enfolded along several intersecting planes on- and offline. The public letter was written collaboratively in May 2012 by activists in Britain, agreed to and signed off by supportive British members of Parliament among others, and addressed to the then prime minister of India and the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu. The letter’s contents pertained to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in south India, with concerns about mandatory procedures in the construction of a nuclear power station, and democratic and human rights abuses against nonviolent protestors. By focusing on the emergence, travels, and receptive trajectories of the letter, the article makes a case for the increasing need to encompass aspects of digital anthropology not as a discrete subdiscipline, but as an integral part of core anthropological focus and method for the study of “onlife” entanglements—what effectively has become the digitalia of everyday life.

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project: Environmentally Just?

Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project: Environmentally Just?

Granular Sorbents for Passive Environment Protection System during Severe Accidents with Total Loss of Power Supply at NPPs

Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences has developed some novel sorbents designed for the filter units of the passive filtration system for radioactive discharge from the intercontainment space during heavy accidents with a complete loss of electricity supply at nuclear power plants. These are granulated sorbents based on large-pore silica gel containing nanometric particles of Ag or Ag-Ni compounds (trademark Fizkhimin). The sorbents allow to remove various radioactive iodine species (inorganic ones and methyl iodide) from a steam-gas phase with at least 104 decontamination factor. The high sorption properties of Fizkhimin sorbent with Ag particles were confirmed during tests at a test facility of the TUV Sudwest company (Karlsruhe, Germany). This passive filtration system is installed at the 1st and 2nd units of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (India) and it is unique in the world practice.

English

A detailed study on the butterfly species diversity was carried around 30 km radius of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant area, Tirunelveli, India during 2011-2013. The survey yielded 6347 individuals of 64 species, belonging to the families Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae. A total of 64 species of butterflies belonging to 47 genera were recorded. The relative abundance was high for Nymphalidae (27 species) (41.93%) followed by Pieridae 15 (24.19%), Lycaenidae 11 (16.12%), Papilionidae 7 (11.29%) and Hesperiidae 4 (6.45%). The Nymphalidae were found to be the dominant family in terms species, general and individual relative abundance. Eight species of butterflies are listed as endangered in Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Such studies on monitoring the species diversity and abundance of butterflies offer valuable information on their population dynamics. A detailed study on ecologically important local butterfly fauna in various habitats is in progress to construct a various habitat survey around 30 km radius of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant area.   Key words: Kudankulam, butterfly diversity, relative abundance, wildlife protection.&nbsp

Environmental radioactivity evaluation in the coastal stretch of Bay of Bengal from Pondycherry to Velanganni (South East coast of India)

Background: Since the Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam and Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Kudankulam are sited in Bay of Bengal coast, radiological study of this coastal environment is imperative to assess the impact of operation of nuclear power plant, if any, on the radioactivity profile of the coast. Materials and Methods: In the present study the environmental radioactivity was evaluated by measuring activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides namely 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K. in the beach sand samples using high purity germanium gamma ray spectrometry. 10 sampling stations were fixed along a 290 km coastal stretch of Bay of Bengal from Pondycherry to Velangannni. Results: The activity concentration of 238 U is always much less than that of 232 Th and 40 K and it ranged from 9 Bq/kg (Pondicherry coast) to 93 Bq/kg (Karaikal coast). However, 232 Th concentration fluctuated from 12 Bq/kg (Pichavaram Mangrove) to 1075 Bq/kg (Karaikal coast). The activity concentration of 40 K varied within a narrow range from 162 Bq/kg to 474 Bq/kg. The distribution of primordial radioactivity was non-uniform along the entire stretch of Bay of Bengal. The elevated levels of 232 Th were recorded in Karaikal coast (S7) (1075 Bq/kg), Tirumullaivasal coast (S4) (215 Bq/kg), and Nagapattinam coast (S9) (146 Bq/kg) and attributed to the presence of thorium-rich monazite as beach placer in coastal sands. Conclusion: The total absorbed gamma dose contributed by the activity of 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K varied between 29 nGy/h and 308 nGy/h with a GM value of 64.4 nGy/h. Similarly, the annual effective dose recorded for Bay of Bengal ranged from 0.04 mSv/year to 0.38 mSv/year, indicating that the Bay of Bengal, in general, falls under Normal Background Radiation Area.

Experiences with the seawater reverse osmosis plant at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant

The Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant (SWROP) of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant is located at Anuvijay township, Chettikulam, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. The objective is to produce 2400 M³ of potable water per day. The plant consists of four streams, each having a capacity of 25 M³/h. Each stream has nine pressure tubes in parallel and each pressure tube has six polyamide spiral-wound membranes in series.

Seasonal Variation of Indoor Gamma Dose and Radon, Thoron Measurement in the Dwellings around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Radhapuram Taluk, Tirunelveli District)

Indoor gamma dose and indoor radon, thoron and their progeny concentrations have been measured around the upcoming Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant i.e., in the Radhapuram taluk. The measurements have been carried throughout a year to account for the seasonal variation of indoor gamma dose and indoor radon, thoron, and their progeny concentrations. Indoor gamma dose value is found to be maximum in the summer season (459.2 ± 82.3 nGy·h-1). Indoor radon, thoron and their progeny concentration are found to be maximum in the winter season. The annual effective dose due to indoor gamma radiation to the Radhapuram population is found to be 1.5 mSv. The total annual inhalation dose arising due to radon, thoron, and their progeny concentrations to population is found to be 1.03mSv in Radhapuram taluk.

Thoron levels in the dwellings of high background radiation area located around Kudankulam nuclear power plant

Thoron concentration levels have been measured in the high background radiation area located around Kudankulam nuclear power plant i.e. in the Agastheeswaram, thovalai taluks (sub-district) of the Kanyakumari district using solid-state nuclear track detectors. Measurements have been carried out on quarterly cycles making four measurements at each location throughout a year. Totally 100 dwellings have been selected for the study. Thoron concentration has been found to vary between 4.6 and 143.5 Bq m −3 with the geometric mean value being 25.1 Bq m −3. Results have been analyzed for different categories of dwellings with respect to their construction type.

Population dose from indoor gamma exposure in the dwellings around Kudankulam nuclear power plant

To assess the population dose due to the natural background radiation around the upcoming Kudankulam nuclear power plant, a systematic investigation has been carried out by measuring the indoor gamma dose. In total, 159 dwellings have been selected around the Kudankulam nuclear power plant area i.e. in Radhapuram and Nanguneri taluk (sub-districts) for the measurement. The geometric mean value of indoor gamma dose rate is 305 +/- 48 nGy h(-1) and 273 +/- 50 nGy h(-1) in Radhapuram and Nanguneri taluks (sub-districts), respectively. The annual effective dose due to indoor gamma radiation to the population has been found to be 1.5 mSv and 1.36 mSv in Radhapuram and Nanguneri taluks, respectively.

Natural radioactivity in the soil samples in and around Kudankulam nuclear power plant site

The terrestrial gamma-radiation in soil and sand samples collected around Kudankulam nuclear power plant site, i.e., in Radhapuram Taluk of Tirunelveli District has been measured using NaI(T1) gamma-ray spectrometer. In the soil samples total dose due to three primordial radionuclides lies in the range of 13.1–168.2 nGy/h with a geometric mean of 137.2 nGy/h, which yields an annual effective dose of 0.17 mSv/y. In the sand samples the total dose due to three primordial radionuclides has been found to be in the range of 38.1–1964.4 nGy/h with a geometric mean of 300.8 nGy/h, which gives an annual effective dose of 0.37 mSv/y which is well below the permissible limit (1 mSv).

Gamma dose measurement in dwellings of Agastheeswaram Taluk of Kanyakumari district, lying 30 km Radius from Kudankulam nuclear power plant site

Most of the building materials contain naturally occurring radioactive elements, the most important of which are potassium (40)K and the members of two natural radioactive series, which can be represented by the isotopes of thorium (232)Th and Uranium (238)U. The presence of these radioisotopes in the materials causes external exposure to the people who live in the building. In addition, the disintegration of Uranium (238)U increases the concentration of radon gas (222)Rn and of its daughters in the house. So a systematic indoor gamma dose measurement has been performed in the dwellings of Agastheeswaram Taluk of Kanyakumari district, which is lying within the 30 km radius from the upcoming Kudankulam nuclear power plant site. The geometric mean of annual absorbed dose from gamma radiation in dwellings has been found to be 278 nGyh(-1). The seasonal variation of indoor gamma dose measurements has also been studied. Significant differences have been observed in dwellings built of different materials such as concrete, tiled, etc.

Development and investigation of the regulator of the passive heat-removal system for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (India)

A system for passive removal of the residual heat released in VVER-1000 with a heat-removal regulator in the form of an air damper operating passively is described. The main results of the computational and experimental validation of the operability of the regulator are presented. It is shown that the design proposed for the regulator gives the nominal characteristics and enables stable operation of the system in hot stand-by and cool-down regimes of the reactor system, and it can be used in the Kudankulam nuclear power plant (India) which is now under construction.

Study of radionuclide distribution around Kudankulam nuclear power plant site (Agastheeswaram taluk of Kanyakumari district, India)

The activity concentration of primordial radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K have been measured in the sand samples of Agastheeswaram taluk of Kanyakumari district using gamma-ray spectrometer. The average activity of 232Th, 238U and 40K are found to be 5787.1, 1082.9 Bq kg(-1) and BDL, respectively. The total average absorbed dose rate owing to the presence of 232Th, 238U and 40K is found to be 3900.4 nGy h(-1). The annual effective dose is 4.7 mSv y(-1) and the results are discussed in this paper.

Natural radionuclide distribution in soil samples around Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Site (Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli district, India)

A study on the concentration of natural radionuclides in soil samples collected around forthcoming Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Site (Radhapuram taluk of Tirunelveli district, India) has been undertaken. In total, 145 soil samples have been collected. NaI(Tl) gamma ray spectrometer has been used for the measurement of radio nuclide's activity. The dose contribution due to 40K and 232Th varies in the range of 0.35–69.15 nGy/h and 13.02–5750.71 nGy/h, respectively. The activity concentration of 238U lies in the below detectable limit (8.5 Bq kg −1) in all the samples, so the dose due the 238U is negligible. The annual effective dose due to these primordial radionuclides is 0.26 mSv/year.