International Conference on Research Reactors: Addressing Challenges and Opportunities to Ensure Effectiveness and Sustainability

Topics

The conference will consist of an opening plenary session, seven topical sessions, and a closing plenary session. In addition, a forum on IAEA activities and services for enhancing research reactor safety, security, and operation and maintenance as well as a forum on the utilization of high-power research reactors in materials testing are scheduled as conference side events.

In order to meet its objectives, the conference will feature:
• Presentations by the invited keynote speakers;
• Presentations to highlight specific areas within each topical session and stimulate discussion among conference participants; and
• Poster presentations that present state-of-the-art information and knowledge related to each of the topical areas.

While most papers will focus on one of the principal topical areas below, authors are encouraged to consider integration with the other areas as applicable.

The final programme and the Book of Extended Synopsis will be available upon registration at the conference.

Session 1: Utilization and Applications of Research Reactors

This session will cover the following topics:

• Challenges and opportunities in:
  o Production of medical and industrial radioisotopes
  o Neutron beam research
  o Neutron imaging
  o Irradiation services and products
  o Neutron activation analysis
  o Materials and fuel testing
  o Other applications, including new developments
• Synergies and complementarities between utilization programmes of small and large research reactors
• Utilization programmes for subcritical assemblies
• Use of research reactors for education and training
• Strategies for effective and sustainable utilization, including regional and international cooperation
• Use of research reactors for the development of nuclear science and technology, including support for nuclear power

Session 2: Research Reactor Operation and Maintenance

This session will cover the following topics:

• Effective operation and maintenance programmes, including lessons learned and good practices
• Ageing management programmes, including methods and techniques for in-service inspections
• Experience with major repair, refurbishment, and upgrade projects
• Programmes for long term operation
• Experience and plans for core conversion projects
• Management of the transition between operation and decommissioning
• Member States’ experiences with Operation and Maintenance Assessment for Research Reactors (OMARR) missions

Session 3: New Research Reactor Programmes

This session will cover the following topics:

• Strategy for accessing research reactor facilities, including new builds
• Development of sustainable national nuclear infrastructure for new research reactor programmes
• Effective application of the IAEA’s Milestones approach for new research reactor programmes.
  Relevant topics include:
  o Assessment of needs, development of user community, stakeholder involvement and strategic planning
  o Assessment of the national nuclear infrastructure and experiences with the IAEA’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review for Research Reactors (INIR-RR) missions
  o Safety and security considerations in different phases of a research reactor project
  o Feasibility studies for new research reactor programmes
  o Development of the functional and technical requirements for new research reactors
• Status reports on new research reactor programmes in progress, experience and lessons learned

Session 4: Safety of Research Reactors

This session will cover the following topics:

• Effective application of the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety of Research Reactors
• Experiences with application of the IAEA safety standards that are relevant to subcritical assemblies
• Regulatory supervision of research reactors, including licensing and inspection programmes
• Leadership and management for safety
• Interaction of human, technological, and organizational factors
• Training and qualification programmes
• Implemented or planned upgrades identified through safety reassessments based on the lessons learned from the Fukushima-Daiichi accident
• Safety and licensing documentation
• Safety analysis approaches, methods, and computational tools
• Ageing management and safety assessment for long term operation
• Safety in utilization and modifications, including licensing of digital instrumentation and control systems
• Operational radiation protection and waste management
• Operating experience feedback
• Periodic safety reviews
• Member States’ experiences with Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactors (INSARR)
  missions

Session 5: Security of Research Reactors

This session will cover the following topics:

• Effective use of the Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan (INSSP) process
• Experiences with application of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Recommendations on Radioactive
  Material and Associated Facilities (IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 14):
  o Development of regulatory basis
  o Regulatory oversight
  o Processes for licensing, inspections and enforcement of the nuclear security regime
  o Risk based approach, including threat assessment, design basis threat, risk management, graded approach and defence in depth
• Implementing and sustaining research reactor facility security systems:
  o Experiences with planning, implementing and sustaining physical protection systems
  o Challenges of addressing emerging threats
  o Developing and maintaining security plans, including computer security
  o Response and mitigation strategies
• Experiences with Integrated Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) missions.

Session 6: Research Reactor Fuel Management and Decommissioning

This session will cover the following topics:

• Fuel management experience, related issues and lessons learned in:
  o Qualification of new fuels for research reactors
  o Fuel performance
  o Fuel handling, including safety, security and operational performance of the facilities
• Strategies for spent fuel management, including fuel take-back programmes
• Decommissioning planning, including considerations during a facility’s lifetime
• Experiences with ongoing and recently completed decommissioning projects

Session 7: Common Management Considerations

This session will cover the following topics:

• Effective integrated management system, including quality assurance programmes
• Safety and security culture
• Conduct of self-assessments and follow-up actions
• Development and use of performance indicators
• Interface between nuclear safety and security
• Use of a graded approach in application of common management considerations, including safety requirements and security recommendations
• Human resources development, including competence management, training, and succession planning
• Operating and experimental data management and preservation
• Configuration management
• Management of facilities in extended shutdown (safety, security, surveillance and maintenance)