Nuclear security

The Nuclear Security Policy of CNE Cernavoda has as its general objective the minimization of the risks associated with exposure to ionizing radiation for personnel carrying out professional activities, the population and the environment and is put into practice by implementing a set of Nuclear Security Principles, which are basis for the development of all activities in the organization:

1. Nuclear safety has the highest priority, before any requirements related to production. All decisions will be made and implemented in accordance with this declaration.
2. The principle of defense in depth will be respected.
3. The staff of the plant will have the appropriate qualification for the activities they carry out.
4. Responsibilities for the nuclear security of the Plant will be clearly defined.
5. Operating procedures will be respected.
6. The verification of the activities will be permanently considered.
7. In the event of unforeseen situations, it is necessary to consult the plant’s specialists in the respective field.
8. Operational limits will be defined.
9. The significant events will be investigated and the conclusions understood and implemented.
10. The questioning attitude will be encouraged.
11. Policies and Operating Principles will not be violated.
12. A set of nuclear security standards will be established according to which the security performance of the Cernavoda NPP will be evaluated.
13. The plant will comply with all nuclear safety requirements and will clarify with CNCAN any interpretations thereof that do not seem to be beneficial for the health and nuclear safety of the population or employees.
14. Top management personnel demonstrate commitment to nuclear safety through continuous attention to processes that have nuclear safety implications.
15. The management staff ensures that the employees acquire and respect the established principles and practices and motivates them through their attitude and personal example.

Activities of the Department of Nuclear Security, Authorizations and Performance Improvement

This Department carries out the activities related to refueling the reactor, neutronic and thermohydraulic monitoring of the active zone, nuclear fuel performance, deterministic analyzes of nuclear security, authorization, performance improvement programs. The department is led by the Chief Engineer Nuclear Security, Authorizations and Performance Improvement and includes four services, whose main activities are described below:

 Reactor Physics Service

Within the Reactor Physics service, the following main activities are carried out:

• Active zone calculations/nuclear fuel management for reactor refueling
• Neutron and thermohydraulic monitoring of the active area
• Nuclear fuel performance
• Control of nuclear guarantees
• Analiza ROP (Reactor Overpower Trip Setpoint)

The purpose of these activities is to maintain the operation of the reactor within the designed limits and within the assumptions considered in the security analyses.

At the same time, the management of the nuclear fuel is monitored, including a loading graph, maintaining a history of the degree of burning, of the power per channel and per beam according to predetermined routines.

Authorization and Reliability Service

The Authorization Group ensures the connection with CNCAN for all topics related to nuclear security and the authorization of the nuclear power plant. Compliance with authorization requirements is maintained by analyzing and solving all CNCAN requirements and conditions from the operating authorizations or from the authorization base documentation, described in the Nuclear Security Report.

The interface with CNCAN to facilitate communication and more efficient resolution of issues related to the nuclear security authorization of the installations at the Cernavoda NPP site is also part of the responsibility of this group.

This group also represents the authority for maintaining the bases and content of the Operating Policies and Principles and establishes and monitors the maintenance of the operational and nuclear security requirements associated with them.

The group provides support for the nuclear safety review of design changes, operating manuals, accident operating procedures and other operating documents applicable to test and maintenance activities.

The group obtains CNCAN’s approval for the changes made to the nuclear power plant project, coordinates the elaboration and periodic revision of the Nuclear Safety Report and coordinates the activities of the Nuclear Safety Periodic Review Program for the nuclear facilities at the Cernavoda NPP.

The Reliability Group elaborates and updates the probabilistic analyzes of nuclear security, according to the nuclear security norms issued by CNCAN. These analyzes are used operatively in planning and carrying out testing and maintenance activities to minimize the risk of a nuclear accident.

Performance Improvement Service

Within the Performance Improvement Service, activities related to nuclear safety culture, operating experience, human performance, self-evaluation, processing corrective and preventive actions are carried out.

For the proper performance of these basic activities, a series of other activities are carried out such as: event analysis (processing of abnormal condition reports), integrated trend analyses, training provided to the central staff for specific activities of exploitation experience and human performance , coordination of external evaluation activities, coordination of performance improvement activities.

An important component in the service’s activity is the dissemination of internal and external exploitation experience, within the service the information exchange program with external organizations (COG, WANO) is taking place.

Nuclear Security Analysis Service

The group evaluates the impact on nuclear security of the degradation of the conditions/parameters in the Power Plant due to aging phenomena, as well as the updating of the results of the security analyzes in the Final Security Report.

Within the Nuclear Security Analysis service, the following main activities are carried out:

• Carrying out Nuclear Security Analyzes/Active Zone Calculations
• Conducting thermohydraulic analyzes of nuclear security
• Performing Fuel/Fuel Channel Analyzes
• Tire behavior analysis
• Performing dose calculations on/off site