WWER Technical Support Center and Training of its Staff for Severe Accident Management

The Russian Utility organization Concern Rosenergoatom (REA) has well developed multi-level system of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations at nuclear power plants. This system covers all aspects related to beyond design accidents - from the technical support of the plant personnel to the measures for protection of the population and environment. In case a radiation dangerous situation or accident at a NPP occurred, the urgent help is being performed by the OPAS group, which coordinates the activities of forces and means participating in localization and liquidation of accident. Technical and information needs of the OPAS group is assured by Crisis center of REA (CC) with its Expert group. The task of CC is the development of the technical recommendations for the plant personnel on the accident management measures aimed to prevent the severe accident or to restrict its consequences. This task is being solved by Expert group (EG) of Crisis center in interaction with the Technical support centers (TSC) established in different design and scientific organizations (NSSS General designer, NPP General designer, Scientific leader of NPP design, institutes of Academy of Sciences, etc). Each TSC is being considered as a constituent of Rosenergoatom CC. Such Technical support center for WWER nuclear power plants (WWER TCS) has been established in OKB Gidropress some years ago. Three modes of WWER TSC operation (and, accordingly, its interaction with REA CC) are defined: normal operation, increased readiness and emergency situation. In case of beyond design accident on a plant, WWER TSC under request of REA CC will develop the recommendations for CC Expert group aimed to prevent the accident progression to the severe phase or to restrict the severe accident consequences, if it nevertheless has occurred. In chapter 2 of the present paper, place and role of WWER TSC in general system of emergency response of Rosenergoatom is highlighted. TSC structure, functions of its staff, modes of operation and joint work with REA CC are described in chapter 3. Finally, TSC staff and NPP personnel training with regard to beyond design accident prevention and mitigation is considered in chapter 4. (authors)