FINNUS. The Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Power Plant Safety 1999-2002: Executive Summary

FINNUS (1999-2002) is the Finnish public research programme on nuclear power plant safety, launched and administrated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (KTM). The programme has concentrated on the themes of ageing, accidents and risks. The general objectives of the programme have been to develop tools and practices for safety authorities and utilities, to provide a basis for safety-related decisions, to educate new nuclear energy experts, and to promote technology and information transfer. The technical objectives of the programme have been prepared under the guidance of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), but the views of the Finnish power companies have been taken into consideration. Funding of the programme has been mainly from public sources. The annual volume of the programme has been about Euro 3.6 million and 30 person-years. The research has been co-ordinated and mainly conducted by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) with a significant contribution from Lappeenranta University of Technology (LTKK). The effects of ageing on nuclear power plants have been studied intensively in order to evaluate the safe remaining lifetime of the components and the efficiency of the corrective measures. The programme has mainly concentrated on studies in ageing effects on material properties and degradation mechanisms of metallic structures, structural integrity and in-service inspection as well as monitoring methods including reinforced concrete structures as a new area. The accident theme has concentrated on operational aspects of nuclear power plant safety. The issues of nuclear fuel behaviour, reactor physics and dynamics modelling, thermal hydraulics and severe accidents were addressed under the theme by conducting both computational and experimental studies. In the risk field, attention has been paid to advanced risk analysis methods and their applicability, and to the evaluation of fire risks, safety critical applications of software-based technology, as well as human and organisational performance. This executive summary gives a brief description of the goals and results of the programme. The programme has published 57 scientific articles, 233 mainly international conference papers, and 274 other reports. Six doctoral theses, two licentiate and 18 master's theses were completed. The total volume of the programme during the four years has been about 130 person-years and Euro 14.4 million.