Handling toxic wastes during salvaging and rehabilitation of nuclear objects in north-west Russia

Systematized information on toxic wastes produced during salvaging and rehabilitation of decommissioned nuclear and radiation-hazardous objects in the nuclear-powered naval fleet in north-west Russia is presented. The dynamics of their accumulation up to 2025 is estimated. Substantiation is given for the need to re-examine the existing system of handling wastes and searching for new solutions for decreasing the ecological risk by systematically reprocessing or eliminating them together with gaining an ecological advantage. Such an approach requires upgrading and developing infrastructure at the salvaging enterprises and objects undergoing rehabilitation. Several strategies are examined. The advantages and disadvantages of each strategy are evaluated according to safety and cost factors and the most acceptable strategy is chosen. A functional model is created. A list of projects and technical means is presented, and the time periods and costs required for implementation are estimated. The priority directions of work are identified. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 105, No. 6, pp. 345–352, December, 2008.     

Analysis of the radioactive contamination of the environment due to decommissioned objects of the nuclear-powered fleet in northwestern Russia

The risk of radioactive contamination of the environment is assessed using a comprehensive approach and examination of the questions, including analysis of the structure of the objects and the interaction between them, determination of the sources of the real and potential danger, development of scenarios for accidents and assessment of their probability, the radiation consequences of exposure of workers, the general public, and the environment during salvaging of the nuclear-powered fleet in the Russian northwest. A systematization of the risk is made and the distribution according to the degree of danger is determined. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 23–34, July, 2006.     

Characteristics of the Formation of the Radiation Situation on Territory of Primorskii Krai

The generalized data from 30 years of observations of the radioecological conditions on the territory of Primorskii Krai, which are determined by the natural sources of ionizing radiation, global fallout, the operation and utilization of nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific Ocean fleet of Russia, are analyzed. Information is presented about the content and basic characteristics of the behavior of technogenic and natural radionuclides in various environmental objects. It is shown that the decommissioning and utilization of nuclear-powered submarines of the Pacific Ocean fleet do not have an inadmissable radiation effect on the public, the environment in Primorskii Krai, and the Far-East region, including also the accident involving the nuclear power system in the boat in Bukhta Chazhma in 1985.     

Experience in Building and Operating Reactor Systems for Civilian Ships

The steps taken in our country to develop reactor systems for several generations for ships for the nuclear-powered civilian fleet, starting with the icebreaker Lenin, are described. The characteristics of the OK-150, OK-900, and KLT-40 systems are briefly presented; the results of their operation for the period from 1959 to 2000 are presented. Problematic questions associated with further use of the nuclear-powered fleet in the Arctic, including increasing the service life of the main equipment, are examined.The prospects for using the ship reactor system KLT-40S for floating thermoelectric power plants and power and desalination systems for remote coastal regions of Russia and other countries in the world are determined on the basis of the experience gained in operating nuclear-powered icebreakers. 5 figures, 2 tables, 6 references.Experimental-Design Office of Machine Building     

Validation of the priorities for complete salvaging and ecological rehabilitation of objects of the nuclear-powered fleet

An approach to validation of the priority problems and measures which must be taken first for complete salvaging of the nuclear-powered ice breakers in the northwest region of Russia is proposed and implemented. A list of the priority measures which must become the foundation for formulating projects financed by Russia or donor countries is presented. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 11–17, July, 2006.     

核动力舰船辐射安全体系与设计统筹

辐射安全是核动力舰船战斗力的重要保障,但辐射安全系统占用舰上资源过多可能降低战斗力性能,因此辐射安全最优化设计是核动力舰船设计的重要任务之一。本文构建了核动力舰船辐射安全体系,针对性地分析了辐射安全分系统应具备的功能、设计需考虑的主要问题和控制要求,以及内外部协调关系和统筹考虑等,旨在使核动力舰船辐射安全设计最优化。      

Analysis of the national legislation governing the complete salvaging of nuclear-powered submarines

The normative-legal documents pertaining to the field investigated are analyzed. It is noted that they correspond to the generally acknowledged approaches to ensuring nuclear and radiation safety. The inconsistencies between different forms of regulation are investigated. The changes in the normative-legal regulation and ensuring safety made in connection with the introduction of the law “On technical regulation” are examined. The discrepancies between the different parts of the federal legislation are indicated, and the importance of constant monitoring of the normative legal base for complete salvaging of nuclear-powered submarines is noted. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 17–22, July, 2006.     

The Effect of Salvaging of Nuclear Powered Submarines on the Radioecological Conditions in Severodvinsk

Data from multiyear observations are generalized and a comparative analysis is made of the influence of salvaging and repair of nuclear-powered submarines on the radiological conditions in Severodvinsk. The possible change in the radioecological conditions as a result of an increase in salvaging at the plants in Severodvinsk is estimated. Analysis shows that with an increase in the salvaging volumes by a factor of 5 the contamination by 2010 will not exceed 0.001% MAC. Taking account of all negative factors, the additional dose load will not exceed 5 Sv/yr, which is less than 0.1% of the natural radiation background and does not present any radiation danger.     

Floating power-generating unit with a KLT-40S reactor system for desalinating sea water

It is concluded on the basis of predictions of the growth in demand for fresh water that nuclear desalination has promise. The world status of and experience in nuclear desalination are reviewed. The requirements for using nuclear-powered desalination complexes are examined. Substantiation is given for the desirability and practicability of building such complexes in floating units based on the type of reactors used in ships. The basic design characteristics of a floating complex with a KLT-40S nuclear power system are presented. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 102, No. 1, pp. 31–35, January, 2007.     

Use of Classical Decision-Making Criteria to Choose Measures to Decrease Economic Losses Due to Nuclear and Radiation Accidents

Classical decision-making criteria are used to choose measures to decrease the economic losses due to possible nuclear and radiation accidents occurring when spent nuclear fuel is removed from nuclear-powered submarines and stored during submarine salvaging operations. The economic losses are chosen as the optimization index. As an illustration of the proposed approach, three scenarios of possible accidents and a limited number of measures to lessen their consequences are examined. Analysis of classical criteria is used as a basis for choosing an optimal strategy for decreasing the economic losses.     

Dose Loads on Hydrobionts and the Population Living in the Operational Regions of Nuclear-Powered Ships

Data accumulated over many years of observations of radioecological conditions are used to analyze the accumulation coefficients for technogenic radionuclides in hydrobionts in interior bukhtas and zalivs in the north-western part of the Sea of Japan. Attention is focused on estimating the contribution of technogenic radionuclides to the dose according to their accumulation coefficients in marine biota and to determine more accurately the contribution of natural ⁴⁰K to the total dose in the operational regions of nuclear-powered ships. On individual local sections of bukhtas and zalivs, the dose due to external irradiation from technogenic radionuclides in bottom deposits exceeds the natural level (regions of radiation accident in bukhta Chazhma, near the nuclear-powered submarine with the damaged nuclear power system in bukhta Pavlovskogo). However, the total dose due to technogenic irradiation of hydrobionts as a whole remains low and falls outside the dose range at which negative effects of radiation for marine organisms are observed.     

Merchant marine nuclear-powered vessels

The history of civil nuclear-powered vessels development in Russia is highlighted. Advantages of nuclear propulsion for icebreakers operating in the Arctic are discussed. The operation of nuclear-powered icebreakers and the nuclear lighters-aboard ship in the Arctic has changed the situation on the Northern Sea Way. The all year round navigation there now is a reality. The reliability, safety and ecological cleanness of nuclear-powered vessels are discussed. The necessity of internationally recognized standards, rules and codes for safe operation of nuclear-powered trade vessels is underlined.     

Prospects for Using Nuclear Power Systems in Commercial Ships in Northern Russia

The experience gained over many years of operating nuclear-powered ice breakers in conquering the northern sea route is described. The conditions which must be met for year-round navigation of cargo ships in the Arctic are presented. For such navigation to be realistic, it must be profitable and Russian national interests in the region must be protected in accordance with the Maritime Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2020. Information is also given concerning the technical status of operating nuclear-powered ice breakers and the characteristics of ice breakers and new-generation nuclear power systems.     

International collaboration on salvaging nuclear-powered submarines

The problem of salvaging multipurpose nuclear-powered submarines, Russias capabilities for solving this problem without any assistance, and the need for international assistance to hasten the solution are examined. Multi- and bilateral mechanisms for international collaboration in this field are presented. The status of the collaboration with all countries participating in the global partnership is reviewed.Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 97, No. 5, pp. 387–395, November, 2004.     

Comparative Assessment of the Effect of Chemical and Radiation Factors on Workers and the General Public Resulting from the Salvaging of Nuclear-Powered Submarines

The results of observations performed over many years are used to make an assessment of the degree to which the concentration of chemical and radioactive substances escaping into the environment during salvaging of nuclear-powered submarines exceeds the admissable norms for workers at the main ship-repair facilities in Russia and for the general public in the surrounding territories. It is shown that the chemical substances are a determining factor in environmental contamination. Their content in the atmosphere and sea water exceeds the admissable norms near sources, on the territory of the enterprises, and (for individual indicators) at populated points. Under these conditions, the concentration of technogenic radionuclides does not exceed the admissable norms and its damaging effect on man is hundreds and thousands of times less than that of chemicals.     

The Economic Potential of a Cassette-type-reactor-installed Nuclear Ice-breaking Container Ship

An improved cassette-type marine reactor MRX (Marine Reactor X) which is currently researched and developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute is designed to be easily removed and transferred to another ship. If the reactor in a nuclear-powered ship, which is the reason for its higher cost, were replaced by the cassette-type-MRX, the reusability of the MRX would reduce the cost difference between nuclear-powered and diesel ships. As an investigation of one aspect of a cassette-type MRX, we attempted in this study to do an economic review of an MRX-installed nuclear-powered ice-breaking container ship sailing via the Arctic Ocean. The transportation cost between the Far East and Europe to carry one TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent container unit) over the entire life of the ship for an MRX (which is used for a 20-year period)-installed container ship sailing via the Arctic Ocean is about 70% higher than the Suez Canal diesel ship, carrying 8,000 TEU and sailing at 25 knots, and about 10% higher than the Suez Canal diesel ship carrying 4,000 TEU and sailing at 34 knots. The cost for a cassette-type-MRX (which is used for a 40-year period, removed and transferred to a second ship after being used for 20 years in the first ship)-installed nuclear-powered container ship is about 7% lower than that for the one operated for 20 years. Considering any loss or reduction in sales opportunities through the extension of the transportation period, the nuclear-powered container ship via the Arctic Sea is a more suitable means of transportation than a diesel ship sailing at 25 knots via the Suez Canal when the value of the commodities carried exceeds 2,800 dollars per freight ton.     

Reactor systems in nuclear-powered ships — present status,service life extension,and prospects

The main results of the operation of nuclear-powered ships (icebreakers) and their reactor systems are presented. Information about the operating time of the ship reactors and the results of operating individual pieces of equipment are presented. The status, results, and plans for work on extending the overhaul period and service life of ship reactors systems are described. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 102, No. 1, pp. 26–31, January, 2007.     

大型核动力船舶船员剂量评价体系研究

建立船员的剂量评价体系是实现我国核动力商船等发展规划亟待解决的关键技术之一。对船员人数最多、人员编制最复杂和辐射防护涉及面最广的大型核动力船舶开展了研究,提出了大型核动力船舶船员剂量评价体系。该剂量评价体系参照国际辐射防护委员会和国际原子能机构推荐的方法建立,包括基本剂量量、剂量限值和参考水平以及剂量计算和监测3大块,覆盖计划照射和潜在照射2种情况,能够满足前瞻性、实际性和回顾性全部3个阶段的船员剂量评价需求。另外,该剂量评价体系还给出了船员剂量评价的具体方法,如需考虑的辐射源和照射途径,应使用的模型、量和取值等。      

Salvaging the Lepse tender

The basic problems of salvaging the Lepse tender of the Murmansk Shipping Company are examined. The main sources of nuclear and radiation danger are determined, the characteristics of their structural features which prevent the appearance of a spontaneous reaction are given, the consequences of long-time storage of spent fuel assemblies are described, and different variants of their removal from storage are proposed. A computational validation of the required degree of subcriticality of the spent nculear fuel and an assessment of possible accidents, including accidents accompanying sinking of the vessel at its permanent base, are given. The salvaging steps are described, the bottlenecks are determined, schemes for handling the vessel are validated, and the radiation load on the workers is estimated. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 101, No. 1, pp. 65–69, July, 2006.     

核电站水池及压力容器内异物打捞技术分析与实践

目前国内核电站水池和压力容器内异物打捞的方法主要有重锤粘取、水净化、真空吸取等,各方法有不同的优缺点,适用于不同的工作环境。核电站重点关注产生异物的主要场所有构件水池、堆水池、压力容器、乏燃料水池等,本文通过对这些场所内产生的异物进行分析,给出异物打捞时应采用方法的相关建议。例举压力容器内的异物打捞工作,从工作准备到实施进行分析讨论,重点说明异物打捞过程中的风险控制。