INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Technical Meeting (TM) on “Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems for New
Facilities and Modernization of Existing Research Reactors”
14 to 18 May 2012 (Ref: 653-T3-TM-43411)
IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria, Meeting Room: ACV – Room P
INFORMATION SHEET & CALL FOR PAPERS
1.
Background
Research reactors (RRs) rely on instrumentation and control (I&C) systems extensively for
providing several functions such as protection, control, supervision and monitoring. I&C
systems are installed throughout the plant and are vital parts of normal, abnormal, and
emergency operations. I&C systems have an important function in ensuring the safety of RRs.
Although analogue I&C and measurement systems provided the above functions satisfactorily
during the past decades, RRs are facing challenges in several I&C areas with ageing and
obsolete components and equipment. With license renewals and power uprates, the long-term
operation and maintenance of obsolete I&C systems may not be a cost-effective and reliable
option. The effort needed to maintain or increase the reliability and useful life of existing I&C
systems may be greater in the long run than that of modernizing I&C systems or replacing
them completely with new digital or hybrid systems.
There are several reasons for considering the modernization of some or all of these I&C
systems in a RR. Obsolescence is a major consideration. This can result from causes such as
lack of spare parts, supplier support, and functional capabilities needed to satisfy current and
future needs. Aging of the I&C systems is another consideration which leads to difficulties
such as degrading reliability and availability, increasing costs to maintain acceptable
performance, and the lack of experienced staff for maintenance and engineering. In addition,
the need for better reliability and availability may require the capabilities of new technology
that are not possible or practical with the older technology.
Refurbishments and license extensions mean that a plant must be supported longer, which will
increase the obsolescence issues. In addition, the older technology limits the possibilities for
adding new beneficial capabilities to the plant systems and interfaces. New technology
provides the opportunity to improve plant performance, human system interface functionality,
and reliability; to enhance operator performance and reliability, and to address difficulties in
finding young professionals with education and experience with older analogue technology.
In addition, there may be changes in regulatory requirements that could necessitate
modernization activities.
I&C upgrades at operating facilities require the use of digital I&C equipment. While a digital
I&C upgrade is a significant undertaking, it is an effective means to enhance plant safety and
I&C system functionality, manage obsolescence, and mitigate the increasing failure liability
of aging analogue systems. Many of the planning and implementation tasks of a digital I&C
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upgrade project are also relevant to new plant design and construction since most equipment
in new plants will be digital.
The Agency is initiating a Technical Meeting that will address key areas of modernization
projects of I&C systems in RRs.
2.
Objectives
The objective of the meeting is to exchange information on the technical and managerial
aspects of I&C systems and modernisation projects specifically related to I&C. For
information exchange, the following two formats will be established:
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3.
Delivering presentations on good practices and experience gained in completed or
planned I&C modernization projects or digital I&C economics, applied to new
research reactor projects.
Submitting formal papers (articles) on the subject. The papers will serve as an
attachment to an IAEA document on digital I&C upgrades to be issued as a TECDOC
later this year.
Scope
Input from international experts is sought to cover all technical areas relevant to the complex
process of RR I&C system modernization and the use of digital I&C in new research reactor
projects. Presentations and the related papers should focus on the following aspects of actual
cases of I&C modernization or new projects:
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Scope of project
Specific project objectives
Reason for modernization
Obsolescence and degradation concerns
Cost/benefit justification
I&C functions improved in the modernization project
Affected systems or components
Applications and licensing of digital I&C technologies
Project organization
Design phase, installation, testing, and acceptance
Regulatory involvement
Training for the operation and maintenance of new system
Final documentation
The draft document summarizing presentation papers would also build on recent IAEA
reports and publications, as well as the recommendations of the Technical Working Group on
Research reactor Control and Instrumentation (TWG-RRCI) formulated in their 2005 and
2007 meetings.
4.
Need for Agency Involvement
The Agency is providing an organizational basis and a working environment for meeting
participants representing various areas of I&C development, system design and testing,
installation, licensing, and operation. The presentations and the associated draft document to
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be initiated have the potential to be an important reference material in I&C modernization and
the application of digital I&C technology in new RR projects for all Member States.
5.
Participation
All persons wishing to participate in the meeting are requested to complete the attached
Participation Form and to send it to the competent national authority (e.g. Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) of the applicant’s country for obtaining an
official national nomination. The subsequent transmission from the national authority to the
IAEA must reach the Agency not later than 15th April 2012.
At the same time the original is sent to the national authority, please send a copy of the form
directly to the Scientific Secretary of the Meeting:
Scientific Secretary:
Mr Charles Morris
Research Reactor Section (RRS)
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology (NEFW)
Department of Nuclear Energy, IAEA
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel: 0043 1 2600 21752/22755
Fax: 0043 1 26007
Email: C.Morris@iaea.org / Official.Mail@iaea.org
6.
Deadline for papers and participation in the Technical Meeting
Prospective participants who wish to attend Technical Meeting should complete the attached
Forms A, B and C (if applicable) to the appropriate official authority (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs or National Atomic Energy Authority) for subsequent transmission to the IAEA, not
later than 15th April 2012.
Each participant wishing to make a presentation on the topics outlined above should send an
abstract to Mr Charles Morris. The abstracts should be received not later than 15th April
2012. Abstracts will be used to select the presentations for the meeting and to establish the
final programme. Authors will be notified about the acceptance of their abstract not later than
20th April 2012. Full papers should be submitted to the IAEA by 30th April 2012.
Presentation files should be prepared in ppt format. Full papers (articles) should be
• prepared in MS Word,
• discuss the modernization project’s aspects described above, and
• not exceed eight pages.
Authors will be requested to bring the electronic copies of their presentation files and articles
to the meeting for the production of a technical report and the meeting proceedings.
Time for the presentation will be limited to 40 minutes (depending on the number of
presenters) in order to have sufficient time for discussion. PC based projection will be
provided.
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7.
Preliminary Schedule of the Meeting
The meeting will commence on Monday, 14th May 2012 at 10.00 am and will end on Friday,
18th May 2012. The location of the meeting is at the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria,
Meeting Room: ACV – Room P.
Notification to participants, along with the preliminary agenda of the meeting and details on
local arrangements and social events will be sent well in advance.
The following web site (http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/vicservices.asp) can be
accessed for more detailed information on Vienna and the VIC.
8.
Working Language
The official working language of the meeting will be English and no interpretation will be
provided.
9.
Visas
Participants are also advised that they may require a valid passport and Schengen visa for
entry into Austria. Accordingly, it would be advisable to begin the immediate preparation of
travel arrangements and necessary authorizations. Please advise the Secretariat as soon as
possible if a formal invitation letter is needed in order to facilitate the visa request. We
request that you apply for visa in a timely manner, if necessary. (The Schengen countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. If you need more information
please check: http://www.schengenvisa.cc/).
10.
Expenditures
In accordance with the established rules, Governments, national authorities, private
companies or individual funding are expected to bear the travel and other costs of designated
participants in the Technical Meetings. Limited funds are, however, available to help cover the
cost of participants from Member States eligible to receive technical assistance under the
IAEA’s Technical Cooperation programme. Such assistance can be offered, upon specific
request, to one participant per country provided that, in the IAEA’s view, this participant will
make an important contribution to the workshop. The application for financial support should
be made at the time of the designation of the participant (Form C).
The Secretariat wishes to state that compensation is not payable by the IAEA for any damage
to or loss of the experts’ personal property. However, for the period of their engagement with
the IAEA, including travel between their residence and the duty station, the designated
experts will be covered under the IAEA’s insurance policy for permanent total disablement or
death resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a maximum of €100 000, for
permanent partial disablement resulting from service-incurred accidents or illness up to a
maximum of €100 000 and for medical expenses up to a maximum of €20 000 plus €10 000
for supplementary travel and accommodation expenses in case of illness or injury resulting
from service-incurred accidents or illness, in accordance with the terms of the IAEA’s
relevant insurance policy.
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This insurance coverage only covers accidents and illnesses insofar as they clearly result from
attendance at an IAEA meeting. The IAEA recommends that the expert(s) also make
arrangements for private insurance coverage on an individual basis.
Registration Fee: There is no registration fee to participate in this meeting.
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FORM A
653-T3-TM-43411
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Technical Meeting on Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems for New Facilities
and Modernization of Existing Research Reactors
14 to 18 May 2012, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria
To be sent to competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Atomic
Energy Authority) for transmission to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
International Centre, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
PARTICIPATION FORM
DEADLINE: 15th April 2012
Family name:
All initials of given name:
Institution:
Full address:
For urgent communications please indicate:
Phone No.:
Telefax No.:
E-mail:
Nationality:
Designating government or organization:
Mailing address (if different from address of institution):
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Mr.
Ms.
FORM B
653-T3-TM-43411
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Technical Meeting on Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems for New Facilities
and Modernization of existing Research Reactors
14 to 18 May 2012, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria
FORM FOR SUBMISSION OF A PAPER
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: 15 April 2012
TITLE OF THE PAPER
AUTHOR(S) INITIAL(S) AND FAMILY
NAME(S)
SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENT(S) IN WHICH WORK HAS BEEN
CARRIED OUT
TOWN/COUNTRY
1.
3.
3.
AUTHOR WHO WILL PRESENT THE PAPER
Mailing Address:
Mr./Ms.
Initial(s):
For urgent communications please indicate:
Family Name:
Telefax No.:
E-Mail:
I HEREBY AGREE TO ASSIGN TO THE INERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
 THE COPYRIGHT OR
 THE NON-EXCLUSIVE, ROYALTY FREE LICENSE
TO PUBLISH THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PAPER, AND CERTFY THAT NO OTHER RIGHTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED WHICH COULD CONFLICT WITH
THE RIGHT HEREBY GIVEN TO THE AGENCY.
DATE:
(SIGNATURE OF MAIN AUTHOR)
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FORM C
653-T3-TM-43411
Technical Meeting on Digital Instrumentation and Control Systems for New Facilities
and Modernization of Existing Research Reactors
14 to 18 May 2012, IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria
To be sent to the competent official authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for transmission to the
Secretariat, c/o IAEA, Vienna International Centre, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, A-1400 Vienna,
Austria [Telefax no. +43 1 26007] to reach it at the latest by 15 April 2012.
GRANT APPLICATION FORM
(see Section 10 of Announcement for application conditions)
NAME:
MR/MS:
MAILING ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NO.:
TELEFAX NO.:
EMAIL ADDRESS:
NATIONALITY:
DATE OF BIRTH (YEAR/MONTH/DAY):
1. EDUCATION (POST-SECONDARY)
NAME AND PLACE OF
FIELD OF STUDY
INSTITUTION
DIPLOMA
OR
DEGREE
YEARS
ATTENDED
FROM
TO
2. RECENT EMPLOYMENT RECORD (STARTING WITH YOUR PRESENT POST)
NAME AND PLACE OF
TITLE OF YOUR
TYPE OF
YEARS
EMPLOYER/ORGANIZATION
POSITION
WORK
ATTENDED
FROM
TO
3. DESCRIPTION OF WORK (PERFORMED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS):
4. INSTITUTE'S/MEMBER STATE'S PROGRAMME IN FIELD OF MEETING:
.............................................
Date
...................................................................…..………………………
Signature of applicant
...............................................
Date
....................................................................................................…….
Name and title (printed) and signature of responsible Government official
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