Paul Scherrer Institut Scientific Report 2002. Volume IV: Nuclear Energy and Safety

Highlights in research and operation Projects established in previous years have yielded relevant and first-of-a-kind results, which have gained broad attention, both nationally and internationally, and which are presented in detail in this report. A few outstanding examples are cited below:Successful first measurements with highly active samples in LWR-PROTEUS Phase II (high burn-up fuel) have shown significant dependency of reactivity on burn-up, and increasing discrepancies between calculated and measured reactivity values with burn-up. As a consequence of these findings, the Swiss utilities wish to extend this phase. On-call calculations in the framework of the STARS project have been used to modify the feedwater system of the Leibstadt NPP. The modification has been subsequently confirmed during a turbine trip. An international consortium has been established for the ARTIST project (aerosol behaviour in the case of steam generator tube rupture). First tests showed higher aerosol retention than expected. The MEGAPIE project remains ongoing, and plans for post-irradiation examination (PIE) have now been established. Investigation of the leak which occurred in the LISOR loop in the Hot Lab has positively identified the cause of failure. PSI's contribution to the China Energy Technology Programme has been completed and documented. Among other results, the programme provided evidence for lower total costs (including externalities) by using 'clean coal' technologies. In parallel, and to assure continuation of the successful collaboration with the European research programmes, NES has participated in 27 'Expressions of Interest' for Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence within the 6th EU Framework Programme. On the operational level, the year 2002 was marked by a series of significant events: The Federal Institutes of Technology, to which PSI belongs, have drawn up strategic plans for the years 2004-2007. The proposed PSI contributions have been accepted by the FIT Board. The planning document is currently in circulation for comment. PSI has updated its 'Guiding Principles' to include its own research capabilities, in particular in regard to sustainable energy technologies. At the end of an intensive 'bottom-up approach', an R+D planning document for the year 2003 has been issued for the first time by NES; this exercise should be formalised in a more compact form in the future. Backfitting of the Hot Lab has been completed in 4 years, at a cost of 14 MCHF (compared with the initial estimates of 3 years and 9.8 MCHF); the NPP operators have agreed to contribute to the Hot Lab infrastructure costs to the extent of 3 MCHF per annum. With regard to education and training, in view of the necessity to maintain a continuous education programme in nuclear technology at university level, the Swiss utilities have conditionally agreed, following the retirement of Prof. Yadigaroglu, to fund an ETHZ Chair in Nuclear (Systems) Engineering. The appointee will become a central part of the new Master of Nuclear Engineering programme, to be offered by ETHZ and EPFL, and will be given the opportunity by NES to perform large-scale research at PSI. The new Masters programme will become an integral part of the emerging European Network on Nuclear Energy (ENEN). At the technical teaching level, PSI's own Technical School for reactor operators has, after some years of reduced participation, again registered an increase in the number of students: in 2002, courses had to be offered on an annual basis, instead of every 2 years, in response to the increased demand. A publication list for 2002 is also provided. (author)