This publication aims to address all relevant aspects of flexible (non-baseload) operation of nuclear power plants specifically focusing on changing electrical output to match the electrical demand and to control the frequency of the electrical system. It provides collective guidance based on current knowledge and operational experience, for the decision making, preparation and implementation of flexible operation for Member States who are considering future flexible operations of their nuclear power plants.
This publication is the fifth in the IAEA Nuclear Energy Series to provide guidance on the inclusion of safeguards in nuclear facility design and construction. It is principally intended for designers and operators of facilities for long term spent fuel management; however, vendors, national authorities and financial backers can also benefit from the information provided. The publication complements the general considerations addressed in International Safeguards in Nuclear Facility Design and Construction, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NP-T-2.8.
This publication focuses on the challenges and their possible solutions in the areas of leadership, human performance and internal communication in a severe nuclear emergency. It presents a brief overview of some of the key concepts, especially how they relate to an organization’s ability to successfully manage an emergency event. The target audience for this publication are those officials and senior managers dealing with emergency response in the operating organization, government, local authorities and the regulatory body. Those who have an influence on the style of leadership and personnel development and training that is applied in their organizations and who are involved in emergency preparedness and response will also benefit from this publication.
Based on the outcome of a collaborative project undertaken by the IAEA, OECD-NEA and the European Commission, this publication provides a global overview of the status of radioactive waste and spent fuel management concerning inventories, programmes, current practices, technologies and trends. It includes an analysis of national arrangements and programmes for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, an overview of current waste and spent fuel inventories and estimates of future amounts. International and national trends in these areas are also addressed.
This publication provides a methodology to enable knowledge loss risk management to ensure safe, reliable and efficient operation of nuclear facilities. It focuses on aspects of knowledge loss risks associated with employee attrition and provides guidance to mitigate them. The described methodology has proved itself in nuclear power plants and can be adopted by any other nuclear related organization. The publication also provides examples of best practices (case studies) of effective knowledge loss risk management gathered from the nuclear power plants and nuclear related organizations as outlined in annexes I-V.
This publication provides a detailed overview of the potential use of nuclear energy for industrial systems and/or processes which have a strong demand for process heat/steam and power, and on the mapping of nuclear power reactors proposed for various industrial applications. It describes the technical concepts for combined nuclear–industrial complexes that are being pursued in various Member States, and presents the concepts that were developed in the past to be applied in connection with some major industries. It also provides an analysis of the energy demand in various industries and outlines the potential that nuclear energy may have in major industrial applications such as process steam for oil recovery and refineries, hydrogen generation, and steel and aluminium production. The audience for this publication includes academia, industry, and government agencies.
This handbook on ageing management for nuclear power plants (NPPs) has been developed in compliance with relevant IAEA safety standards and draws on lessons learned from ageing management practices worldwide. It provides an overview of the topic and guidance on proactive ageing management within NPPs. The publication also collates information on ageing mechanisms, effects on structures, systems and components, the regulatory framework as well as some details on innovative techniques and research and development in the area. The information is presented concisely with clear flow charts and with structured reference to the underlying principles. The handbook will support NPP staff, maintenance managers, vendors, personnel at research organizations and regulators in their work related to the ageing of structures, systems and components.
This publication is the fourth in the IAEA Nuclear Energy Series to provide guidance on the inclusion of safeguards in nuclear facility design and construction. It is principally intended for designers and operators of conversion plants; however, vendors, national authorities and financial backers can also benefit from the information provided. The publication complements the general considerations addressed in International Safeguards in Nuclear Facility Design and Construction, IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NP-T-2.8.
The high enriched uranium (HEU) take back programmes will soon have achieved their goals. When there are no longer HEU inventories at research reactors and no commerce in HEU for research reactors, the primary driver for the take back programmes will cease. However, research reactors will continue to operate in order to meet their various mission objectives. As a result, inventories of low enriched uranium spent nuclear fuel will continue to be created during the research reactors' lifetime and, therefore, there is a need to develop national final disposition routes. This publication is designed to address the issues of available reprocessing and recycling services for research reactor spent fuel and discusses the various back end management aspects of the research reactor fuel cycle.
This publication presents an overview of research reactor capabilities and capacities in the development of fuels and materials for innovative nuclear reactors, such as GenIV reactors. The compendium provides comprehensive information on the potential for materials and fuel testing research of 30 research reactors, both operational and in development. This information includes their power levels, mode of operation, current status, availability and historical overview of their utilization. A summary of these capabilities and capacities is presented in the overview tables of section 6. Papers providing a technical description of the research reactors, including their specific features for utilization are collected as profiles on a CD-ROM and represent an integral part of this publication. The publication is intended to foster wider access to information on existing research reactors with capacity for advanced material testing research and thus ensure their increased utilization in this particular domain. It is expected that it can also serve as a supporting tool for the establishment of regional and international networking through research reactor coalitions and IAEA designated international centres based on research reactors.
This publication emphasizes the key cross cutting technological issues associated with instrumentation and control systems and human system interfaces that arise from the specific behaviour and operational characteristics of advanced small modular reactors (SMRs). It is intended to assist Member States in understanding current knowledge, practices, design and architecture, implementation, operating and maintenance related aspects with I&C systems in SMRs, as well as for discussing the challenges and issues that need to be resolved in this field in the first phases of design and implementation by Member States active in SMR development.
Mitigation of the financial risks attendant on a nuclear power plant new build project is a key to ensuring project viability. This publication emphasizes how various risks — including those typically considered to be ‘engineering risks’ — will give rise to such financial risks. It then introduces the linkage between efficient financial risk allocation/mitigation and the cost of capital, and sets out a range of mechanisms which can be used to manage and allocate risks efficiently, thereby minimizing the cost of capital and enhancing project economics. At a practical level the publication provides an insight into the concerns, modes of thinking, and language which a nuclear new-build proponent may expect to encounter within the financing community as they seek to develop their project.