Prospects to Implement Innovations in Nuclear Energy: What Scientists Spoke About in 2024
At the end of September 2024, the VI International Scientific and Technical Conference “Prospects for the Introduction of Innovations in Nuclear Energy” took place in Kyiv. The event was arranged by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society together with the Council of Young Scientists under the Department of Energy and Energy Technologies of the NAS of Ukraine, Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine supported by the Energoatom, Energy Safety Group, Phoenix Contact Ukraine, Atomkompleksprylad, Impulse, Witkowitz Atomica and Synergoatom, Ukrainian Society for Optics and Photonics.
Traditionally, the first day of conference was held in the format of the plenary session. The second day included two panel sessions. There was also an expert discussion on the functioning and development of nuclear energy in conditions of the russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
During the conference, much attention was paid to the construction of new power units, implementation of small modular reactors, deployment of nuclear and hydrogen cogeneration in Ukraine. In particular, Vasyl Korolchuk, Engineer of the Energy Safety Group, spoke about the implementation of NPHyСo project intended to research the potential of using large-scale capacities for hydrogen generation at nuclear power plants. Significant efforts were completed during two years, according to which it can be said that the implementation of hydrogen technologies in the control area of Rivne and Khmelnytsky NPPs is possible, however there are challenges in licensing of the implementation of hydrogen plants due to the need for special permits.
Other presentations covered the issues of materials science and the implementation of modern information systems for operation and maintenance of power units.
Oleksandr Trofymenko, Engineer of the Impulse, spoke on the progress in the implementation of in-core monitoring systems of a new generation SVRK-M2 based on the ImCore national calculation complex. In particular, the expert stated that there was a comprehensive verification and testing of the ImCore which has already been put into operation as part of SVRK-M2 at four Ukrainian NPPs, and at two of them it functions as a standard means of monitoring VVER-1000 core.
Volodymyr Semynozhenko, Director General of the Institute for Single Crystals, spoke on the materials science efforts to learn functional properties of the most effective neutron-absorbing materials for both operating nuclear power units of Ukraine and small modular reactors, namely the synthesis of titanium dysprosium for absorbing rods of the instrumentation and control systems of VVER-1000. The scientist noted that titanium dysprosium has greater corrosion and radiation resistance compared to boron carbide, which makes it more reliable, but at the same time has lower absorption characteristics. Titanium dysprosium will be produced in Ukraine to be used at Ukrainian NPPs and for import.
Every year, the conference raised the issue of diversification not only of nuclear fuel, but also equipment and materials supply. Therefore, Anton Makarenko, Head of the Nuclear Power Plant Resource Department of the Paton Institute of Electric Welding, talked about the practical use of European materials to replace russian ones. For example, technical features were agreed with the SNRIU to admit the most critical 17 base and 22 welding materials for use in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and piping.
The conference also addressed the issue of implementation of innovations in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Oleksandr Proskurin, Leading Engineer of the Institute for Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine, shared experience of robotic radiation survey in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone and mentioned the need for the development of automated and robotic technologies for radiation survey and continuous monitoring, especially in areas not covered by stationary systems. A potential solution is the development of a network of unmanned systems: heavy, wheeled or tracked platforms for survey of roads and light terrain; four-legged robots for hard-to-reach regions; multi-rotor aircraft for aerial surveillance and signal relay.
For many years, the conference has raised issues of wartime, such as informing and communicating with the public during war. Anna Skorospelova, Public Affairs Officer of the SSTC NRS, spoke on the importance of identifying and debunking disinformation, knowledge of the basic fact-checking and use of modern approaches to presenting information in response to risk and crisis situations. Vladyslava Butelko, Expert of the Public Affairs Department of the SSTC NRS, spoke on the involvement of the public into the implementation of new technologies in the nuclear industry noting the need to update public involvement approaches, since the public relations area should also develop in the period of digitalization.
Uatom.org editorial board