IAEA Databases in Support of Ageing Management, Refurbishment, Modernization and Safety of RRs

1. Introduction

The IAEA assists Member States (MSs) with the construction, operation, utilization and fuel cycle supply of RRs, as well as with capacity-building and infrastructure development. Typical activities of IAEA, are: a) review missions of staff and experts and financing projects (regional, national) through the TC department; b) creating networks and coalitions; c) capacity building through workshops and training courses; d) exchange of information through Technical Meetings (TMs); e) multinational Coordinated Research Projects (CRP); f) scientific publications (e.g., Safety Standards, Technical Guides) and g) creating and administrating electronic databases embedded in IAEA website.

The presentation describes four existing electronic databases, in the area of RRs operation and safety related topics:

• RRDB - Research Reactors Database, administrated by the Research Reactor Section (RRS).
• RRADB - Research Reactors Ageing Management Database, administrated by RRS.
• RRMPDB - Research Reactors Material Properties Database, administrated by RRS.
• IRSRR - Incident Reporting System for Research Reactors, administrated by the Research

Reactors Safety Section (RRSS).

2. RRDB - (https://nucleus.iaea.org/RRDB/RR/ReactorSearch.aspx)

The RRDB is an informative list of technical information about 730 nuclear installations, built in 60 MSs The data is supplied by designated national representatives, and includes specifications and operational characteristics from: critical facilities up to multipurpose RRs. It indicates, among other, the status of operation of the facility: planed/construction/operational/temporary, extended and permanent shut downed/ decommissioning/fully decommissioned. Browsing the RRDB, one can learn about: a) the existence of 217 operational facilities and 21 temporary shut downed; b) that 90 facilities (38%) are operating more than 50 yrs; c) a Russian critical facility, is operating periodically for the last 70 yrs. Hence, it is comparative tool to enhance utilization of RRs

3. RRADB - (https://iaea.org/sites/RRAMP/Pages/mainpage.asp)

The RRADB is a compilation of 296 Scientific &Technical reports on successfully resolved ageing caused issues of RR Systems, Structures and Components. The database is used by operators and regulators when establishing, implementing and improving ageing management programs. It comprised of brief technical reports, based mainly on presentations in IAEA biannual TMs. The reports provided are organized and coded by ageing mechanism and affected reactor components.

4. RRMPDB (β-phase) - (https://nucleus.iaea.org/sites/rramp)

The RRMPDB incorporates about 140 reports assembled through a CRP (2012÷2017). Three independent variables are offered to be browsed: a) Structure irradiated Materials; b) RRs Components; and c) Physical/Mechanical properties (related to ageing mechanisms). Presently, the RRMPDB is under development.

5. IRSRR- (http://irsrr.iaea.org)

The IRSRR is a collection of reports created to analyses safety incidents/events/accidents of several categories: a) reported to INES; b) reported to regulatory body; c) less significant incidents with a useful lesson and d) near misses. The database and reporting system is open to the contributors only. The MS has to appoint a National coordinator, which is responsible to write and communicate the reports. Browsing the database indicates that Human factors (40%) & Ageing of components (39%) are the most frequent root causes of the safety incidents reported to the IRSRR.

6. Summary

A review of various IAEA databases, dedicated to distribute information on RRs, is presented. The databases are continuously administrated and upgraded by the IAEA. During 2018, the completion of the RRMPDB development is expected along with an augmentation of the RRADB, that will include additional reports based on presentations in other then IAEA scientific meetings, considering ageing management, refurbishment and modernization of RRs. The ageing of the fleet of RRs increases the importance to use these databases as sources of information.