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TITLEINSTITUTION

DOCUMENT RESUME

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Nuclear Powerplant Safety: Operations.Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Nuclear EnergyOffice.

REPORT NO DOE/NE-0070PUB DATE 86

NOTE 20p.; Pictures and drawings may not reproducewell.

AVAILABLE FROM Energy, P.O. Box 62, Oak Ridge, TN 37331 (free whilesupply lasts).

PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141)

EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS

IDENTIFIERS

ABSTRACT

MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.*Accident Prevention; College Science; Energy;Engineering Technicians; Environmental Standards;Higher Education; KNuclear Energy; *Nuclear PowerPlants; Nuclear Power Plant Technicians; *NuclearTechnology; Radiation; *Safety; *Safety Education;Science Education; UtilitiesNuclear Regulatory Commission

Powerplant systems and procedures that ensure theday-to-day health and safety of people in and around the plant isreferred to as operational safety. This safety is the result ofcareful planning, good engineering and design, strict licensing and,regulation, and environmental monitoring. Procedures that assureoperational safety at nuclear powerplants are as follows: Cl)training and updating of reactor operators in procedures ofpowerplant operation; (2) maintenance of strict security at thepowerplant; (3) control of radiation releases; (4) storage of thespent (used) fuel in deep pools of water within the powerplant toallow cooling and handling of the spent fuel by remote control; (5)certification of powerplants by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) in design, construction and safe operation; and (6) ongoinginspections and environmental monitoring programs to ensure thatnuclear powerplants comply with all requirements for public health,safety, and environmental protection. Topics discussed includeoperational safety; personnel training programs; categories ofreactor operators; security; control of radiation releases; handlingspent fwal; role of NRC; and sources of radiation to the UnitedStates population. CRT)

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and Improvement

EDUCATIONAL L RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC"

This document has been reproduced asreceived from the person or organizationOriginating it.

0 Minor changes have been made to improvereproduction quality

Points of view or opinions stated in this doe irment do not necessarily represent official,OE RI position or policy.

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.OPFIRATIONAL SAFETY refers to

powerplant SVSti'lliS and proceduresthat.ensure the dav-to-dav health and

\....f-safety of those in and around theplant. Operational safety of a nuclearpowerplant is the result' of carefulplanning, good engineering and designstrict licensing a.nd regulation, and

SIthorough environmental monitoring....

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Operational safety at' nuclear power-,plants is assured by the followingprocedures:

Reactor operators are thoroughlytrained and constantly updated onprocedures of pow erplant operation.

Strict security is thaintained it thepowerplant at all times.

I-he amount of radiation routinelyreleased by nuclear powerplants isso small that it cannot be measured

,against the natural radiation presentin the environment.

To ensure worker safety, the radio-active spent (used) fuel is stored indeep pools of water within thepowerplant in order to all w cooling.The spent fuel is'handlec y remotecontrol.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) certifies that the powerplant isdesigned, constructed. and operatedin a safe manner.

Ongoing inspections and en-vironmental monitoring programsensure that nuclear powerplantscomply with all requirements forpublic health, safety, and en-vironmental 'protection.

'OPERATIONAL SAFETY OFNUCLEAR POWERPLANTS

All energy systems have some impacton the environment and the peopleliving around the plant. Nuclear power-plants use steam to produce electricityjust as coal and other fossil-fueledpowerplants do, so certain aspects ofoperational safety are common to bothtypes of plants. These include workersafety around high-pressure steam lines,heat releases to the environment, andprecautions necessary with high-voltageelectricity. In addition, each technologyhas its own set of special concerns.Isolating radiation, training reactoroperatOrs, and maintaihing strict securityaround a nuclear powerplant areexamples of some of the operationalsafety issues associated with nuclearenergy.

It is recognized that even the bestdesigned and constructed powerplantcannot meet the necessary high safetystandards unless it is operated and main-tained by skilled personnel. To meet thestrict standards governing nuclearpowerplants, activities that affect thewell-being of the people or the environ-ment around the plant are constantlymonitored. Inspections are made toassure that the high quality and carefuldesign of all the safety systems aremaintained throughout the life of thepowerplant. Any problems or questionsencountered during operations, inspec-tion, or testing are reported, andcorrective actions are taken.

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PERSONNEL TRAINING PROGRAMS

A vital part of operational safety isthe intensive training and preparednessof the people who operate the power-plant. To train operators, utilities usesophisticated powerplant simulatorsexact mockups of the control room of areal powerplant. The simulators arecomputer controlled, allowing theoperators to gain practical experiencein managing all types of normal andunusual occurrences without any dangerto the public or the environment.Accidents can be simulated at actual,fast, or slow speed. The instructors alsohave the ability to stop an "accidelit"and discuss with the student operatorsthe correct actions to take.

VidgEiFs,

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Simulated control rooms are used to trainpowerplant operators.

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The importance of training reactoroperators was highlighted by the acci-dent at Three Mile Island (TMI). Thisaccident, which occurred in March 1979,focused public attention on the questionof operator training. A minor mechanicalmalfunction was compounded byincorrect actions taken by the reactoroperators. Although no one was injuredby the accident, the financial costs havebeen enormous. As a result of the TMIaccident, recruitment, training, andoperating standards have been raised.Training now focuses more on under-standing the necessary actions and thereasoning behind those actions. TheInstitute of Nuclear Power Operations(INPO), an independent organizationsponsored by the utility industry,conducts detailed evaluations ofoperating practices at nuclear power-plants. The U.S. Department of Energy(DOE), INPO, and the NRC are workingtogether to improve the expertise ofreactor operators. The already highstandards for staffing, training, andselection of the people who operatenuclear powerplants have been furtherupgraded as a result of recommenda-tions from these groups.

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Each working shift at a nuclearpowerplant is now required to have onduty at least one Licensed Senior ReactorOperator, two Licensed ReactorOperators, and two Plant Operators.New regulations also require that thisteam be supported by a technicaladvisor. The technical advisors, who areusually graduate engineers, provideadvanced technical assistance andinformation during both normal andunusual operating conditions.

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New NRC regulations require allreactor operator trainees to achievehigher test scores than were previouslyacceptable. All licensed operators arerequired to complete periodic retrainingcourses to keep their skills at the highestlevels. This retraining consists of class-room lectures, drills, on -shit discussions,and exercises with a reactor controlroom simulator. These stricter standardsmake it more difficult to become a reac-tor operator and improve the technicalcompetence of those who do becomeoperators.

NUCLEAR POWERPLANT SECURITY

Because the by-products of thenuclear fission process are potentiallyharmful, strict security is required atnuclear powerplants. Security is main-tained not only to protect the plant andthe people in and around it, but also tolimit the possibility of the theft of anynuclear materials. Each utility companyoperating a nuclear powerplant mustdevelop a "safeguards contingencyplan," a written plan of what would bedone in case of threats, thefts, or sab-otage. Periodic exercises and drillsare conducted to assure that all person-nel know what to do in case of anemergency. Not only are the plantsdesigned to be secure against outsidethreats, but they are also equipped andoperated in a manner to make themsecure against internal threats. Access tothe plant and its surrounding property isrestricted by a series of boundaries.

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ealila..Security procedures al nuclear powerplants arestrictly regulated.

Each boundary represents a barrierthat will detect any intrusion andallow time for emergency response. Awell-trained security force, physicalbarriers, electronic surveillance, andscreening of plant visitors are all usedto keep unauthorized persons fromentering the plant site. These securityprocedures are strictly regulated by theNRC.

CONTROL OF RADIATION RELEASESEach utility company that applies for

a nuclear powerplant constructionpermit must demonstrate that the plantcan operate within the NRC's radiationexposure limits. Once the permit isapproved and the plant is built, continu-ous monitoring by the utility companyand periodic inspections by the NRCprovide assurance that the plant is beingoperated safely.

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SOURCES OF RADIATION 10 U.S. POPULATION

50.5%Natural background

radiation

2.'% Fallout05% Miscellaneous sources

y 0.2% Occupational exposure

0 05% Releases from the nuclear industry

The nuclear energy industry contributes for less than I per-cent of the average person's exposure to radiation.

Source: National Academy of Sciences. 1980:National Council of Radiation Protectionand Measurement. 1984

Radiation's biological effect ismeasured in units called rems. However,measuring radiation from powerplants inrems is like measuring the dimensionsof a desk top in miles. It can be done,but it isn't very practical. For thatreason, the most commonly used unit tomeasure the radiation emitted by apowerplant is the millirem (1 rem equals1,000 millirem).

SPENT FUELHANDLE WITH CAREIn order for a nuclear powerplant to

continue to operate efficiently, part ofits nuclear fuel must be periodicallyreplaced. Special care is taken inhandling this highly radioactivematerial, which is called spent fuel.Each year the reactor is shut down, andthe top of the reactor vessel is removed.About one-third of the fuel is thenremoved from the reactor by remotecontrol and tran3ferred to a 30-foot-deep pool of water within the power-plant. This water serves as a radiationshield and a means of removing heatfrom the spent fuel. Although this isconsidered temporary storage, somespent (used) fuel has been held safelythis way for more than 30 years.

A temporary storage pool cools spent fuel andalso shields workers from radiation.

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SPENT FUELHANDLE WITH CAREIn order for a nuclear powerplant to

continue to operate efficiently, part ofits nuclear fuel must be periodicallyreplaced. Special care is taken inhandling this highly radioactivematerial, which is called spent fuel.Each year the reactor is shut down, andthe top of the reactor vessel is removed.About one-third of the fuel is thenremoved from the reactor by remotecontrol and tran3ferred to a 30-foot-deep pool of water within the power-plant. This water serves as a radiationshield and a means of removing heatfrom the spent fuel. Although this isconsidered temporary storage, somespent (used) fuel has been held safelythis way for more than 30 years.

A temporary storage pool cools spent fuel andalso shields workers from radiation.

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Much research has been devoted todeveloping a method to recycle spentfuel. "Reprocessing" is the technologythat removes the desirable materials foruse as fuel in other nuclear reactors,while preparing the remaining waste forpermanent disposal. A commercialreprocessing plant was operated in theUnited States between 1966 and 1972,and successfully accomplished theseobjectives. In 1977, the Federal Govern-ment decided to delay commercialreprocessing, but the technology isavailable today.

The major focus of research on thedisposal of spent fuel is the developmentof a permanent method of wastestorage. Ongoing Government studieshave determined that the best locationwill be underground in deep, dry, andstable formations. Salt domes, granite,limestone, and shale are all beingconsidered. The waste storage facilitywould consist of a number of chambersexcavated at a depth of 2,000 feet ormore. Sealed, corrosion-resistantcylinders have been designed to containthe waste and reduce the possibility ofreleasing any radioactive material.However, even if a release should occurin these deep, dry formations, it wouldtake thousands of years for the materialto reach any living organisms. By thattime virtually all of the radioactivitywould be gone. The waste will beretrievable by conventional miningtechniques if even better methods ordisposal are developed in the future.

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The shipping casks for spent fuel weigh as much

as 25 tons and are built to withstand majoraccidents, such as collision and fire.

Disposal of spent fuel will necessarilyinvolve shipping from one point toanother. Strict regulations govern thesafe transportation of nuclear material.It is no more hazardous to ship spentfuel and radioactive wastes than to ship

many other materials that are routinelytransported all over the country. Thetypes of hazards in the transportation ofnuclear fuel include theft and the acci-dental release of radioactive material

due to a collision. All shipments aresubject to strict Federal regulations.

Heavy-duty shipping materials andhighly trained security personnel areused to prevent theft. Shipping containers

have been developed and tested thatfar exceed the safety standards fortransportation of other toxic substances.

The shipping casks have been deliber-ately subjected to violent, high-speedcollisions. In all these tests, the damagesustained by the shipping casks would

not have permitted the release of any

radioactivity.

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THE ROLE OF THE NUCLEARREGULATORY COMMISSION

The NRC was established in 1974 bythe Energy Reorganization Act and tookover the regulatory functions of theAtomic Energy Commission. The NRChas four basic functions: licensing,inspection and enforcement, standardsdevelopment, and regulatory research.Of these functions, the first two aredirectly related to operational safety.

The licensing process is the responsi-bility of the NRC's Office of NuclearReactor Regulation. A detailed licensingand review process ensures that nuclearpowerplants are built and operatedwithin the guidelines of strict regulationsat the Federal, State, and local levels.This process involves numerous reviewboards consisting of both technicalexperts and local citizens. The licensingprocess includes holding hearings, con-ducting studies, and filing reports. Theentire process is performed twicefirstto obtain a construction permit and thenlater to obtain an operating permit. Thedetailed licensing process ensures thatbefore a plant is constructed, the utilityhas the expertise to build and operatethe powerplant in a safe manner.

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The NRC's Office of Inspection andEnforcement assures that nuclear power-plants comply with all requirements forpublic health and safety, environmentalprotection, and security of nuclearmaterials and facilities. This office

The NRC performs periodic inspections of nuclearpowerplants to ensure that the facility is beingoperated in compliance with Federal regulations.

measures emissions of radiation fromnuclear powerplants to check theaccuracy of the measurements reportedby the operating utility company. Thisoffice also investigates any accidents orunusual incidents, or even allegations ofunusual occurrences, that may occurduring operation of a powerplant. TheNRC enforces safety by notifying theoperating utility of violations requiringcorrective actions, imposing heavy fines,or even suspending or revoking theoperating license.

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OPERATIONAL SAFETYA CONTINUING COMMITMENT

A utility company planning to build anuclear powerplant has the task ofassuring the public that the plant will bebuilt and operated safely. In recentyears, the Government has furtherupgraded the already strict requirementsfor these powerplants. More attention tosafety and potential environmentaleffects has been given to the nuclearenergy industry than to any otherenergy-related technology. This carefulapproach has resulted in the develop-ment of an important energy sourcewith an exceptional safety record.

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PHOTO CREDITS

Page3 - Photo courtesy Pennsylvania Power dr Light, providedby The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations

Page 15 - Photo credit - Electric Council of New England

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DOE produces publications to fulfill astatutory mandate to disseminate informa-tion to the public on all energy sourcesand energy conservation technologies.These materials are for public use anddo not purport to present an exhaustivetreatment of the subject matter.

This is one in a series of publica-tions on nuclear energy. For additionalinformation on a specific subject,please write to ENERGY, P.O. BOX 62,OAK RIDGE, TN 37830.