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Increasing the share of renewable energy sources for the generation of electricity in the public electricity network can have an important impact on the performance of the electricity system. An important problem in the electric power system is ensuring the continuity of the supply. The aim of the paper is to present a way to complement energy demand management and smart grids with models that follow changing energy production. This can be achieved by a holistic management system for diagnosis and risk assessment ...

The masonry moisture sanation process does not end, when the building job is over. This article contains results from long-term measurements of moisture levels in underground areas of several old buildings. These results can help in diagnostics and design of repairs in other buildings.

Radiation technologies using ionising radiation and radionuclides are now widely used in all areas of human activity. These include applications in medicine, industry, nuclear energy, and science. Exposure to ionising radiation therefore affects radiation workers employed at these sites, a large group of people who are in the vicinity of the sites in the course of their work, and people who live and work in the vicinity of the sites. However, the positive properties of ionising radiation and radionuclides that we ...

At the Azgir nuclear test site in Western Kazakhstan 17 nuclear explosions were carried out at a depth of 165 to 1500 m, as well as ground explosions. Nine underground cavities with a total volume of about 1.2 million m3 with extremely high residual radioactivity were formed in the thickness of the rock salt layers. Five of the nine cavities are filled with groundwater and strontium, cesium and plutonium radionuclides are leaking into the environment, and radionuclides spread through food chains. A medical examina...

The levels of specific activity of 90Sr and 137Cs in fish of one of the most polluted reservoirs of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ) - Vershyna Lake. During the research period from 2011 to 2021 for all studied fish of the lake. The peak ranges of the specific activity of radionuclides are noted at the level of 32960-213300 (average value 67832-22936) Bq/kg for 90Sr and 838-25907 (4811-569) Bq/kg for 137Cs. It is shown that at the current stage, the specific activity of 90Sr in the ichthyofauna of the lake exce...

The main features of the measurement of the trace amount of 90Sr using ICP-MS inecology and nuclear forensics were established. Among them are sample-specific matrixeffects which may enhance or suppress the analyte signal, spectroscopic interferences,poly-ions formation, isobaric interferences, and reagent contaminations. Proposedsolutions to these problems: external and internal calibration of mass-spectrometer, precleaning and pre-treatment of the adsorbents and reagents, as well as selective removingisobar inte...

The Semipalatinsk nuclear test site (SNTS) is the main source of radionuclide contamination in Kazakhstan. More than 460 nuclear explosions were carried out on the territory of the SNTS. This is the only landfill in the world where some territories are still inhabited by people. The source of radionuclides entering the human body is animal food. The purpose of the research was to study the content of 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides in livestock products (chicken meat) and their impact on public health in areas close ...

Significant differences were found in the degree of penetration of 137Cs, 90Sr, and 241Am into the bottom sediments depending on the type and origin of the waterbody. In most cases, the upper 10 cm layer of bottom sediments is the most contaminated, but the degree of penetration of 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am in it is higher than the observed values for soils. 90Sr migrates most deeply. The highest content of radionuclides is found in closed and low-flowing waterbodies, such as isolated floodplain lakes in the Pripyat rive...

Background. The issue discussed in this paper is caused by the historically established opinion that in thermal reactors the fission of uranium-235 by fast neutrons, which are formed during its fission by thermal neutrons, can be ignored. The purpose of the study is to assess the effect of the fission of uranium-235 by fast neutrons on the nuclear safety of a thermal reactor. Methods. For the study, the method of comparing fast neutron multiplication coefficients in the fission of uranium-235 by fast neutrons and ...

For assuring the stability of important buildings (nuclear power plants) during strong earthquakes, the soil strata under these buildings should not get deformed during the events. In the paper will be analyzed the nonlinear behavior of soil layers during strong earthquakes. As follows from the soil dynamics experiments, shear modulus G and damping D become functions of strain level , and nonlinear behavior could take place. Further, changes could appear in the mechanical properties of the soil layers, expressed b...

The super-compaction is the process used to conversion of the radioactive waste into a stable, compacted solid form as a cylindrical pellet. A characteristic of the compaction is that it reduces the volume of waste but the amount of radioactivity remains the same. A super-compaction facility operating under a force of 2000 tones which compresses the material contained in the standard drum of 220 l is used for treatment of radioactive waste. A compressed form, reduced by its high with the diameter of the metal mold...

Nowadays, the best solution of radioactive waste management seems to be its deposition in deep repositories. However, construction of these repositories brings new issue for civil engineers. The most important one is elimination or inhabitation of radionuclide release in the environment. Therefore, new kinds of building materials have to be developed. This article is focused on improvement of the most utilized and the most common material -concrete. The main idea of this study was to improved radionuclides sorptio...

Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) dispersion conditions relate to key natural factors that characterize radiation and environmental safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Therefore, the said conditions are studied in sufficient detail even at pre-design stages of NPPs construction. Given the ongoing development of nuclear power industry, synthesis of methodological approaches to NPP siting options with due account of atmospheric dispersion conditions is of great interest. Formal pursuit of requirements and recommen...

Considered here is the problem of cooling water-cooled reactors in an emergency, including in emergencies involving a blackout. This problem has become particularly important after the events that occurred at the Japanese nuclear power plant, ?Fukushima-1.? Here we present a new emergency reactor-cooling system developed at the Department of Energy Problems at the Saratov Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. We propose a new way to provide redundant, auxiliary power for nuclear power plants (NPPs) throu...

Assurance of radiation and environmental safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs) implies development of an automated radiation monitoring system. In its turn, such a system presupposes that hydrological and meteorological monitoring should be arranged on the NPP site and in its vicinity. Monitoring is launched at pre-design stages of the NPP construction project, and continues during the construction, operation and decommissioning (dismantling) of the plant. The goal of the study is to generalize the results of hydr...

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of concrete designed as a secondary barrier for radioactive waste deposition. Sorption materials, such as natural zeolite, have very good encapsulation ability to certain ions, which can be harmful for the environment, such as 137Cs. Incorporation of natural zeolite into concrete may increase the protection ability of secondary barriers against radionuclide release. Determination of water-transport- and water vapour transport properties of such concrete can ...

A sound measure for the overall efficiency and economy of a power plant is the Energy Return on Investment (EROI). The EROI values could be evaluated for different types of power plants including photovoltaics, wind energy, solar thermal, hydro, natural gas, biogas, coal and nuclear power applying the exergy concept with no ?primary energy weighting?. It makes possible to directly compare the overall efficiency of the power plants on a uniform mathematical and physical basis. Pump storage systems, needed for solar...

Influences of earthquakes on nuclear power plants and their parts are studied in frame of nuclear safety. In the past, the authors have dealt with the effects of earthquakes and vibrations in the primary circuit. However, it cannot be omitted that the seismic influences can show up also on the secondary circuit. Turbines installed in secondary circuits of nuclear power plants are big and heavy machines. For example the turbine installed in JETE (Temel?n Nuclear Power Station ? Czech Republic) generates 1003MWe. It...

Background: In the classical kinetics theory of a nuclear reactor, inserting the slightest reactivity-jump leads to an unlimited exponential increase in the reactor power. The purpose this study is the establishment of the nature of such a phenomenon. Methods: Theoretical research is based on the physics of the chain fission reaction as a sequence of cycles, each cycle of which is initiated by neutrons of the previous cycle. The study method consists in determining the change in the output neutron density of the c...

The study presents the possibilities, procedures and financial burden of mitigation and elimination of the consequences of radiation events within emergency zones of nuclear power plants regarding local contaminated plant biomass of agricultural crops. The agricultural land of Jiho?esk? kraj (South Bohemian Region ? Czech Republic) was chosen as the model area where Temel?n, a two-block nuclear power, plant is operated. In this area, emergency response planning is divided into two parts: the on-site zone and exter...

The study was carried out in cooperation with the State Institute for Radiation Protection of the Czech Republic as a pilot project for the 137Cs Residue after the Chernobyl accident. The prediction of the development of the radiation situation can be based on an extensive soil survey. The current contamination of the soil with 137Cs was contributed by 2 sources: the nuclear weapons tests in the atmosphere that peaked in the 1960s and the Chernobyl accident. Surface contamination in the CR from the nuclear weapons...

The paper presents the results of the study of modern movements of the Earth's crust in the southern part of the Nizhnekanskiy massif according to global navigation satellite systems (GPS/GLONASS). The article presents preliminary results of geodynamic zoning of the Yeniseisky site based on the methods of system analysis. Nizhnekanskiy massif is located at the junction of major tectonic structures - the Siberian Platform and West Siberian Plate. Its southern part is characterized by stable tectonic regime, the ave...

Considered here is the problem of cooling water-cooled reactors in an emergency, including in emergencies involving a blackout. This problem has become particularly important after the events that occurred at the Japanese nuclear power plant, пїЅFukushima-1.пїЅ Here we present a new emergency reactor-cooling system developed at the Department of Energy Problems at the Saratov Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. We propose a new way to provide redundant, auxiliary power for nuclear power plants (NPPs) t...

Experience of radiological contamination of land, especially after the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters has shown the need to explore possible ways of capturing radionuclides in the area affected and adapting the landscape management to this purpose ex-ante the considered accident in terms of prevention. The project "Minimizing the impact of radiation contamination on land in the emergency zone of TemelпїЅn NPP" (2012-2015), dealt with the possibility of utilization of wetlands as retention sites for water carryi...

In connection with the significant destruction capability of tornado, the possibility of tornado passing through the areas comprising higher criticality rating facilities, such as nuclear power plants (NPP), is considered during the design and engineering (D&E) phase for such facilities. Corresponding probabilistic safety criterion in introduced into the decision-making basis concerning the consideration of tornado's impact onto the hazardous production facilities and destruction loads computation during the D&E p...

Knowledge of emitted neutron spectra is crucial to determination of degradation rate of materials or biological shielding designing. Therefore the paper focuses on the neutron spectra measurement using passive activation detectors made from indium and special spectral filters. A neutron radionuclide source made of mixture americium and beryllium was used for irradiation. The irradiation was carried out on the special stand SVICKA that allow generating different spectra in various irradiation channels. The spectral...

Atmospheric dispersion climatic conditions relate to main factors determining the environment ecological condition and radiation safety in the NPP area. This article is devoted to generalization of the author's studies concerning the atmospheric dispersion in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) for selection of the NPP sites and arrangement of ABL monitoring during the course of NPP construction and operation. Results of the ABL parameters climatic regime studies at Nizhny Novgorod NPP and Belorussian NPP are pro...

The frequency of development contemporary technologies is strongly connected to the creation of new composite materials with multi-functional application. They should be characterised with all necessary complex properties for functioning in extreme conditions. The radiation materials science has one of the important segments among the huge spectrum in materials science. Ther e is much interest in above mentioned materials in nuclear technologies. In particul ar, there are increased requirements in key- segments in...

Starting from the recently proposed hypothesis [1] on the Moon formation from the ejection of terrestrial mantle material in a heat-propelled jet, triggered by a run-away natural georeactor at Earth’s core-mantle boundary, we estimate the energy losses in the Earth-Moon system, develop dynamics of this process and compare produced value of the heat with known estimations for heat produced by heavy radionuclides fusion in the Earth body. We conclude that the values of heat produced in these two processes are comp...

It is estimated that useful life of world’s well known petroleum reserves will last 40 years, natural gas will last 61 years and coal reserves will be exhausted in 227 years. Decrease in fossile fuel reserves due to fast consuming and environmental damages due to increasing environmental pollution makes it necessary to orient towards new and renewable energy resources. Natural thorium comprising blend of completely radioactive isotopes was first discovered by Berzelius in 1828 and its radioactivity was revealed ...