Nuclear Infrastructure Research Articles

Emerging Trends in Industry 4.0 and Predictive Maintenance

With the advent of Industry 4.0, predictive maintenance (PdM) is revolutionising maintenance procedures across various industries. The integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT) and big data, is enhancing the potential of PdM in sectors including non-traditional sectors such as nuclear infrastructure, logistics and healthcare. This study highlights the development of PdM within Industry 4.0 and its impact on the financial and operational facets of numerous industries. It underscores the need for continuous innovation and adaptation in PdM strategies, emphasising the necessity for substantial investments in training, technology and the cultivation of a workforce skilled in digital technologies and data analytics. To fully capitalise on this dynamic field, the study stresses the importance of staying abreast of industry advancements, evaluating new tools and refining maintenance practices.

Nuclear anxiety as an instrument of war: The use of news media to shape and respond to the disinformation campaign surrounding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has galvanized anxiety over a possible nuclear catastrophe, with threats ranging from deliberate attacks and shelling of nuclear power plants to the potential use of nuclear weapons. Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europe’s largest such facility, raises fundamental questions about using NPPs in crisis and risk communication, and disinformation campaigns. Building upon interdisciplinary research bridging Communication and International Relations Studies, this article employs content analysis to examine how Ukrainian and Russian media outlets engaged in a rhetorical battle of frame perceptions about the threat of nuclear catastrophe related to ZNPP. They explore how Russia’s propagandists used news media to stir nuclear anxiety as part of a broader disinformation campaign, and investigate strategies employed by Ukrainian media agencies to manage the risk of nuclear anxiety and respond to Russian disinformation. The article contributes to conversations in the field of crisis and risk communication related to how political stakeholders use news media to influence audiences’ perceptions, and specifically how political actors use nuclear anxiety politicization and disinformation to gain political influence. The findings provide insights into developing effective news media strategies responding to threats of large-scale nuclear, biological, or chemical catastrophes and cyber-attacks on nuclear infrastructure.

Strategic analysis for advancing Morocco's nuclear infrastructure using PESTELE framework

Morocco's exploration of nuclear energy aligns with both climate goals and national energy ambitions, offering a promising low-carbon alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Despite the nation's significant strides in renewable energy, nuclear power remains understudied, revealing a critical literature gap. This research underscores the global imperative to transition to net-zero emissions and the pivotal role nuclear energy plays in addressing climate change. Within the context of Morocco's 2030 plan, which prioritizes renewable energy, nuclear energy stands as an underexplored aspect, lacking comprehensive research. To bridge this gap, the study employs a PESTLE analysis to examine the political, economic, societal, technological, legal, and environmental factors influencing Morocco's nuclear energy landscape. The integration of insights from various sources, including press releases, reports, and scientific publications, ensures a holistic and well-informed perspective on Morocco's nuclear industry. The paper concludes by providing an overview of nuclear energy use on different scales, accompanied by a detailed discussion of the PESTLE analysis outcomes. This approach seeks to contribute valuable insights for informed decision-making and strategic planning in the realm of nuclear energy development.

Estimation of Return Levels with Long Return Periods for Extreme Sea Levels by the Average Conditional Exceedance Rate Method

Estimation of so-called return levels for environmental extremes is of importance for risk assessment. A particular challenge is to find estimates corresponding to long return periods, as uncertainties in the form of confidence intervals became too wide for practical use when applying conventional methodology where large portions of data are not used. A recently proposed technique, the Average Conditional Exceedance Rate (ACER), makes effective use of all available data. For risk analysis related to nuclear infrastructure, usually located along a coastline, extreme sea levels are of concern. We demonstrate, for measurements of the sea level along the Swedish coast at locations close to nuclear power plants, that the methodology results in considerably shorter confidence intervals compared to conventional approaches.

Country profiling through IAEA Milestones Approach: A comprehensive analysis of the Moroccan nuclear infrastructure

Morocco’s exploration of nuclear energy aligns with climate goals and national energy ambitions, providing a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. Despite the adoption of renewable energies, Morocco still needs to enhance its energy resilience. This article explores Morocco’s preparedness in the case of considering the introduction of nuclear energy to support the energy mix and mitigate the issue of energy dependence. This study employs the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) milestones approach to analyze Morocco’s nuclear readiness and address existing literature gaps. By offering this analysis, the article aims to inform appropriate policy decisions regarding the potential introduction of nuclear energy. Results indicate the nation’s progression into Phase 1, advancing toward a nuclear program decision. Achieving milestone 3 and completing Phase 3 necessitate essential competencies and extensive infrastructure development.

Highlights and outlook of the Dutch PIONEER 2021–2024 R&D program

The Netherlands has a prominent infrastructure in the field of nuclear energy and medical applications. At present the country operates one nuclear power plant, but with an ambition of extending the lifetime of the current nuclear power plant beyond 60 years and construction of two further nuclear power plants in the coming decade. In addition the country plays a significant role in the enrichment of nuclear fuel with two enrichment plants operated in the east of the Netherlands. Furthermore, the Netherlands is the largest producer of medical isotopes in the world, and has some world renowned medical institutes in the field of nuclear medicine. To compliment this infrastructure the Netherlands also contributes to nuclear innovations, through international research and development (R&D). This paper will provide an overview of the Dutch nuclear infrastructure, and it will present the publicly financed R&D program PIONEER which forms the backbone of nuclear research in the Netherlands. The seven intertwined themes of program will be described, together with a single highlight per theme. The paper will also give an outlook on the expected directions for research for the period’25 to’28. Whereas many of the current topics are expected to remain important for the future multiannual program, the plans for expansion of the nuclear power capacity in the Netherlands will lead to a broadening of the scope to support realization of new nuclear power plants in the country, deployment of water-cooled small modular reactors and developments in advanced reactors.

238Pu production: a State-of-the-Art review of NpO2 target fabrication technologies and processing of irradiated targets

Abstract Space mission beyond the solar system cannot rely on photovoltaic (PV) cells as primary power source, and combinations of PV cells and batteries. For such purpose, Radioisotope Power Systems powered with 238Pu have served well for all flagship space exploration missions since the early Apollo missions until today’s Mars Exploration Program and continue to be the preferred primary energy source for future missions. 238Pu production proceeds via neutron irradiation of 237Np, which is created as a by-product in nuclear fission reactors. Neutron irradiation of 237Np to produce 238Pu is conceptually very simple, but the production of sizeable quantities of 238Pu with acceptable isotopic purity, and the further separation and processing stages pose formidable technological challenges. 238Pu is a highly radiotoxic alpha emitter with an elevated specific activity and high decay energy with high risk for the workers, and its precursor, 237Np, is a radiotoxic alpha emitter whose daughter 233Pa decays to 233U with a strong gamma emission. Furthermore, the very rich and weakly explored chemistry of Np is also a challenge. The historical 238Pu inventory of US-DOE has been highly consumed and supplies of available 238Pu to support new missions have diminished. NASA and US-DOE have started an extensive project to re-establish 238Pu production for US space missions. In Europe, ESA has also shown some interest in an European production of 238Pu for the European space missions. In the present review, the manufacture of Np targets for 238Pu production by irradiation, and the target processing are discussed and assessed from an European production perspective by comparing mainly US state-of-the-art with the European know-how and the current facilities. Two principal options for target fabrication stand out: aluminium-clad NpO2–Al CERMET and zircaloy-clad full-ceramic NpO2 targets. The principal advantages of the well documented CERMET route can be found in the irradiation stage. These targets allow a high flexibility in heavy metal loading fraction and have high thermal performance. But, they have significant drawbacks in terms of the amount and type of nuclear waste that is generated at the back-end. Instead, the full-ceramic targets are conceptually very similar to conventional nuclear fuels, and would be preferred from back-end perspective, although a demonstration of large scale production remains yet to be done. Presently, there are no operational large scale Np target production, irradiation, processing or 238Pu handling facilities in Europe, but the nuclear infrastructure exists and is operational to study each of the steps at least at small scale and all steps have similarities with well-established industrial capabilities in Europe.

Analysis of the national and international framework for the EPZ establishment including harmonization and applicability for next generation reactors

Planning zones are the part of nuclear infrastructure that determines the principles of radiation safety, acceptance of the selected technology, as well as sustainability of the installation design. Today, in the Russian Federation, the requirements of regulatory documents on the presence of zones for planning protective measures are mandatory for objects of the 1st and 2nd hazard categories according to national sanitary norms and regulations. Next-generation reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs), in most cases also require the development of approaches to establish or justify protective action planning zones. In practice, there are no special requirements in terms of protecting the population, so the methods used for VVER-type installations are transferred to such next-generation facilities. In this part, the Russian Federation studies the issue of applying new calculation methods, adapting, and harmonizing the principles of radiation protection, as well as determining reasonable conservatism between the analysis of possible consequences and the means of ensuring the radiation safety of the population in the event of accidental releases. The article considers the current requirements for calculating the size of planning zones based on two different approaches, EUR and IAEA, and their comparative analysis based on some accidents for NPPs with VVER-1000 reactors. The method and technology used for obtaining results can also be applied to next-generation reactors.

Did a USB drive disrupt a nuclear program? A Defense in Depth (DiD) teaching case

Defense in Depth (DiD) has become an industry buzzword. But practicing DiD is easier said than done. While cybersecurity researchers have predominantly focused on securing corporate networks, there remains a serious gap in endpoint-threat awareness. Yet endpoint threats were the progenitor of 68% of breaches and hacks in 2019 (Computers Nationwide, 2022), a vulnerability that increased during the COVID-19 lockdown with relaxed BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies, more IoTs, and cheaper and larger USB flash drives. This teaching case uses the 2009 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities to exemplify how a single USB drive was used as an endpoint threat to disrupt a nuclear infrastructure, drawing attention to the need for and how to practice DiD to counter towering complexities ushered in burgeoning endpoints cyberattacks, from hacks to ransomware. The case shows the need for DiD to simultaneously pay heed toward physical, technical, and processual (administrative) measures to prevent, defend, and mitigate cyberattacks, from hacks to ransomware. The case and its teaching notes highlight the opportunities and challenges of practicing DiD for endpoints, from flash drives to IoTs.

A Review of Concrete Carbonation and Approaches to Its Research under Irradiation

The current state of knowledge on concrete carbonation has proven that this phenomenon is one of the key factors influencing the reinforced concrete durability reduction during the operational period. To date, the carbonation process has been researched quite deeply; however, the dependence of its course on a variety of external and internal factors poses a significant problem in service life predictions for concrete constructions. The development of nuclear infrastructure around the world in recent years has set scientists the task of investigating such processes in conditions different from those usual for industrial and civil construction. In particular, information in open sources on the course of the carbonation process under irradiation conditions is insufficient. The manuscript analyzes the existing data on concrete carbonation, including a review of the main methods for studying the carbonation process, key factors influencing the course of this process, applied methods of mathematical analysis, predictive models of service life, dynamics of carbonation development, and the application of such analytical models in practice. The available information about the carbonation process under various types of irradiations on the causes, dynamics, and mechanisms of carbonation and corrosion processes occurring in reinforced concrete during operation is also considered. Based on the results of the analysis carried out in the study, recommendations are given for further development in the research field of carbonation process in concrete structures of nuclear power plants in order to comprehensively predict their service life.

STRUCTURE AND ANALYSIS OF THE URANIUM MINING SUBSECTOR IN THE CONTEXT OF ENSURING OF ROMANIAN ENERGY SECURITY

The need for analysis of the nuclear subsector, which generates critical nuclear infrastructure, comes in the context in which the possible occurrence of non-supply cases with uranium raw materials, nuclear fuels and nuclear electricity, could generate major issues of national interest, with European and NATO implications. The authors consider that addressing the uranium mining subsector is a strict national security issue because the lack of nuclear raw materials, their prefabricated materials or nuclear electricity can cause enormous damage to domestic consumers, industry and the national economy, which are dependent on electricity.

Developing Approaches to Priority Setting for Closing-Down of Nuclear Infrastructure

Developing Approaches to Priority Setting for Closing-Down of Nuclear Infrastructure

Fast reactor thermal hydraulics in the Dutch PIONEER program

The multi-year research program carried out by NRG and funded by the Dutch ministry of economic affairs and climate is called ‘Program for Innovation and cOmpetence development for NuclEar infrastructurE and Research’ (PIONEER). The program comprises seven themes, i.e. long term operation, nuclear modelling and simulation, nuclear safety and compliance, fuels & materials, radioactive waste management, radiation protection, and innovative nuclear systems. One of the pillars in the theme of innovative nuclear systems is fast reactor research, particularly in the field of thermal hydraulics. This paper provides an overview of all fast reactor thermal hydraulics activities in the program, covering development and validation of System Thermal Hydraulics (STH) and 3D (engineering as well as high-fidelity) Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes and simulation approaches. Applications range from fundamental turbulent heat transport to core, pool and system thermal hydraulics. With the recent improvements in computational infrastructure and power, also further developments of multi-scale and multi-physics computational approaches are being integrated in the PIONEER program. A generic coupling tool ‘myMuscle’ is under development which is introduced in this paper. Recent results and current developments are presented together with an outlook for the results to be expected at the end of the current multi-year program and beyond.

Saudi Arabia's nuclear energy ambition and its compliance with IAEA guidelines for newcomers: An overview

This research article explores the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (KSA) efforts to meet its increasing electricity demand and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by integrating nuclear energy into its energy mix. KSA aims to achieve a clean energy mix of 50% by 2030, including nuclear energy. The paper discusses KSA's progress in developing its nuclear power infrastructure, including the establishment of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE), and Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC). KSA has followed the IAEA “Milestones Approach” and conducted the first Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) to ensure compliance with international standards and regulations. The article highlights the Kingdom's commitment to fulfilling international conventions and treaties related to nuclear power generation and its determination to achieve its VISION 2030 nuclear power generation targets. The paper provides an overview of the progress made by KSA towards introducing nuclear energy and underscores the measures taken to ensure the safety and security of the nuclear program.

Model‐based architecting evaluation method for the delivery of complex nuclear projects

AbstractFacing the organizational and technological complexity of nuclear infrastructures (NI), the public reluctance in nuclear technology and the increasing restrictive regulatory environment, improving the conceptualization and evaluation of NI architecture is crucial for the successful completion of NI projects. Indeed, many technical engineering difficulties or delays in delivery can be avoided by deepening the design and evaluation of NI architectures. In a context where model‐based systems engineering (MBSE) is becoming more and more relevant, it is interesting to integrate evaluation into this process. Although the architecture evaluation (AE) process is rather well defined in the literature and linked to system analysis practices, it is quite difficult to deploy and pilot within complex NI projects. This article proposes a model‐based method, EVAluation for Critical Infrastructure Model Based System Engineering (EVA‐CIME), to facilitate the deployment of AE processes on a project. The components of this method are described and illustrated in a study of a NI design. The benefits and limitations of EVA‐CIME in its state of development are discussed and lead to the conclusion that the method should be extended to foster an AE culture within the company itself.

РАДИОЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ ПРИБРЕЖНОЙ ЗОНЫ КОЛЬСКОГО ПОЛУОСТРОВА (ПО ДАННЫМ НАБЛЮДЕНИЙ В 2013-2020 ГОДАХ)

The current radionuclide pollution of the marine environment (water and bottom sediments) in the coastal zone of the Kola Peninsula have been analyzed. The background pollution of the coast is formed by the Barents Sea water inflow, nuclear fleet infrastructure facilities, and radioactive waste management operations. The main factors determining radiation background and spatial dynamics of pollution in the largest bays and open coastal areas have been considered. As a result, it is stated that the main factor determining the radiation background of the open coastal zone is the transfer of 137Cs and 90Sr radioisotopes from the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic by the Murmansk nearshore current. The emission of radionuclides from nuclear infrastructure facilities in the Andreev, Zapadnaya Litsa, and Kola bays is insignificant and has a local nature in terms of the scale of impact.

Study Characteristics of a Multipurpose Reactor Building G.A. Siwabessy using Floor Spectral Ratio

The G.A. Siwabessy Reactor is a vital national object of Indonesia’s nuclear infrastructure. These nuclear facilities are vulnerable to earthquake shocks due to regional tectonic activity. This could have a major impact on society and the surrounding environment if a nuclear disaster occurs. To mitigate hazards, we investigate location and building characteristics through Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) and Floor Spectral Ratio (FSR) analysis. We determine the natural or dominant frequency (f0) and the amplification factor (A0). We carried out data acquisition on 8 - 19 January 2023 using the Lennartz LE-3D/20s short period seismometer. The data collection time was 31 minutes with 100 Hz sampling. We analyzed the data using Geopsy software. The natural frequency range obtained for wave propagation based on the direction of the NS component is in the range 1,423 – 4,726 Hz. For wave propagation in structures with the EW component direction, the f0 value is in the range 1,280 Hz to 9,753 Hz and the average f0 value in this direction is 2,957 Hz. This research will be a reference in the Periodic Safety Assessment regarding the resilience of building structures due to changes in the maximum ground acceleration value as a condition for extending the operational permit for the G.A. Siwabessy reactor.

Preparation of guidance on the appraisal of the environmental impact assessment report for the center for nuclear science and technology of Vietnam

At present, Viet Nam is intensifying work on the preparation of the construction of the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) with a new research reactor (10 MWt capacity, with the possibility of increasing the capacity to 15 MWt). The implementation of this project will improve Vietnam’s nuclear infrastructure and will become a reliable stepping-stone for the further development of nuclear energy. The main tasks of the CNST are solving tasks in the field of science, engineering, and technology; conducting research in the field of production of radioisotopes for medical and industrial purposes, conversion of materials, and reactor materials science; conducting fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics, experimental research in physical processes; training and advanced training of personnel in the field of nuclear energy. This article presents and analyzes the legal system of Vietnam on environmental protection, up-to-date documents related to the environmental impact assessment (EIA) of Vietnam and international organizations. Issues requiring attention related to the EIA on the radiological aspect during the implementation of the CNST project at the construction stage, trial, and normal operation are considered. The structure of Guidance on the appraisal of the EIA report (GAR EIA) for Vietnam’s CNST project is presented.

Proposed arrangements and cyber security challengesin nuclear domain: An explanatory study of India

The goal of cyber security is to protect the internet against online attacks. One of the most frequently usedterminologies in cybersecurity is “cyber-threats,” which refers to the use of information and communicationtechnology (ICT) for hostile purposes by a range of criminals. The complexity of cyber security architecture makeshigher safety measures necessary to guard against system flaws and potential global catastrophes. One of themost important security issues today is cyberattack. A cyber breach could make nuclear systems safety andsecurity safeguards ineffective, which is especially important for nuclear systems. India, which has a sizableand developing nuclear programme, has a similar situation. Over the past few decades, governments, includingIndia, have invested a significant amount of time and money in building effective physical safeguards for nuclearinstallations, which has raised the risk of a cyber or hybrid attack. The risk of hacking, disruption, or sabotage risesas nuclear infrastructure becomes more and more reliant on cyber technology. Any cyberattack’s antagonistic goalis to take advantage of a system’s weaknesses in order to take over, operate, and keep a presence on the targetsystem. Designing standards that can accommodate both immediate and long-term needs is crucial due to thesensitivity of nuclear materials and infrastructure. The study’s objective is to discuss the proposed arrangement ofcyber security in nuclear domain in India.

Legal provision of environmental safety of floating nuclear power plants in the Arctic

According to the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation, the generation of electric energy by nuclear power plants has increased by 25% over the past decade. Floating nuclear power plants (or FNPP) are promising technology in the field of using atomic energy in low–power nuclear installations. Compactness and mobility are the main advantages of the NPP, which make it possible to provide thermal power to consumers in the most remote territories, including in the Russian Federation, without the need to build an integrated nuclear infrastructure. The only Russian FNPP in the world, «Academic Lomonosov», is stationed in Pevek, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. EU countries and China are interested in building their own thermal power plants. Russian Federation has planned the construction of several new FNPPs to ensure the operation of the Baimsky GOK. The emergence of a multifaceted and relatively new facility for the use of atomic energy calls for the need to analyze the current international and national legislation capable of ensuring environmentally safe operation.