Vietnam: The systems of handling fuel of nuclear power plants must prevent damage to the fuel

According to Article 66 of Circular No. 30/2012/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, the systems of handling and storing fresh fuel and spent fuel must:

- Prevent criticality by physical means or by means of physical processes or by a specified margin, and preferably by use of appropriate geometrical configurations;

- Facilitate the inspection of fuel;

- Facilitate the maintenance, periodic inspection of components important to safety;

- Prevent damage to the fuel;

- Prevent the dropping of fuel in transit;

- Provide identification for individual fuel assemblies;

- Provide proper means for radiation protection;

- Provide adequate operating procedures and a system of accounting for, and control of nuclear fuel.

Moreover, the systems of handling and storing spent fuel must:

- Allow removal of heat from the fuel in any situation;

- Prevent causing unacceptable handling stresses on fuel elements or fuel assemblies;

- Prevent the dropping of fuel in transit;

- Prevent the potential dropping of heavy objects that damage fuel;

- Keep suspect or damaged fuel elements or fuel assemblies safe;

- Control levels of soluble absorber if this is used for criticality safety;

- Facilitate the maintenance and disassembly of fuel handling and storage facilities;

- Facilitate decontamination of fuel handling and storage areas and equipment;

- Accommodate all fuel take from the reactor core in accordance with the plan for core management;

- Facilitate the transit of fuel from the storage and the preparation for off-site transport.

View details at Circular No. 30/2012/TT-BKHCN of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, effective from February 11, 2013.

Le Vy

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