Advancement of hot-lab/research reactor techniques with particular reference to the reactor pressure vessel materials examination - 15168

This paper reviews the advancement of the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute hot laboratory (hot-lab)/Research Reactor techniques with particular reference to the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) materials examination. As a main barrier against radioactivity outlet RPV is a key component in terms of PWR safety. In Russia along with routine investigations, systematic research on actual radiation damage of the in-service and decommissioned RPVs has been carried out. Unique origin and value of these probe materials forced undertaking considerable efforts for hot-lab techniques advancement. Sum of the measures especially taking into consideration their synergistic effects allows modernizing up to high scientific, technological and ecological level the hot-lab segment concerned with RPV materials study. Particular and significant advancement have been made for the RPV steels behavior examination by means of the progressive methodology development for the primary irradiation, annealing and re-irradiation conducting. Transference of the centre of gravity to before- and after-irradiation stages leads to irradiation procedure simplifying and reduction of prices under the improvement of the experiment quality overall including ecological after-effect. (author)