ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(78)166
Vol.1978/0054

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(78)166final.
Brussels,19April
PROPOSAL FORACOUNCILDECISION
adoptingaprogrammeofresearchfortheEuropean
AtomicEnergyCommunityonsafetyinthermalwater
reactors
(submitted ,totheCouncilbytheCommission)
C011(78)166final.

XI1/760/77-EN
1.Introduction
AccordingtotheResolution onEnergyandtheEnvironment adoptedbythe
Councilon7November1974"•••theCommunities andtheMemberStatesshould
investigatethespecialproblemsassociatedwiththedevelopment ofatomic
energy,particularly thedangerofradiation,theproblemsofreactor
safety.•.•"(l)
Again,intheCouncilResolutionof22July75onthetechnological problems
ofnuclearsafetytheCouncilagreed".•••tostrengthen Communityeffortsto
coordinateappliedresearchprogrammesinordertomakethebestpossibleuse
oftheresourcesavailableintheCommunityandtheMemberStates "bothtechni­
callyandfinanciallywhilstavoidingasfaraspossibleunnecessary duplica­
tion;theseeffortsshallbeaimedatimprovingsystematicexchangesof
information ,promotingconcertedactionandcooperation betweenspecialized
bodiesandinstitutesandstimulating whereappropriate thedevelopment of
Comunityprogrammes"(2)
ToachievetheseaimstheCommissionhasaccordinglyinitiatedvariousacti­
vitiesasadvisedbyitsworkinggroupn°2whichdealswiththermalwater
reactorsafetyresearch.
Becauseofthelargerangeandcomplexityofsubjectsandthevariousdegrees
ofpossiblecoordination thefollowingworkingmethodwasapplied:
-tosubdividethehugefieldofresearchtobecovered;
-tofocuseffortsonimprovingexchangesofinformation bothonmodifica­
tionsanddevelopments ofresearchprogrammesinmemberstatesandon
progressandresultsobtained;
-toendeavouratthesametimetoarriveatthebestsolutionofthemajor
technicalproblemsandtoidentifyprioritiesintheresearchprogramme.
•/•••
(l)Doc.R/2996/74(ENV137,ENER48)of14Nov.1974
(2)OffioialjournaloftheEuropeanCommunitiesn°CI85/I-I4August1975

-2- XII/760/77-EN
Generallyspeaking,theultimateobjectivesoftheCommission's
measureare:
1.toestablishanefficientandrapidinformation networkintheCommu­
nityandtofacilitateexchangesofinformationwithindustrially-developed
non-member countries :thisallowstheidentification ofareaswheremore
knowledgeisrequired
2.topromote-inselectedfieldsandaccordingtoapre-established
orderofpriority-continuousconsultation ,coordination andcooperation
betweenthespecializedagenciesandinstitutesoftheMemberStatesand,
whereappropriatethoseofthenon-MemberStates.
3.topromoteCommunityprojectsparticularly toincreasetheknowledge
inthosespecifiedareaswheremoreknowledgeisrequired.
Effortstoachieveitems(l)and(2)have"beenunderwayforsometime.
Thispresentproposalconcernsitem(3).
2.Programme
TheproposedCommunityresearchanddevelopment programmeisintendedtobe
complementary toexistingandproposedprogrammesofthermalwaterreactor
safetyresearchin:
-CommunityMemberStates
-NuclearadvancedcountriesoutsidetheCommunity(forex.USA,Japan,
Sweden)
-TheJointResearchCentreoftheCommission (directaction).
Theworkisintendedtobecarriedoutinorganisations oftheCommunity
MemberStateswiththefinancialparticipation oftheCommunity(indirect
action).
./..
(*)ThisisessentiallyforLightWat^rReactors(LWR)butitcanbe
relevanttoHeavyWaterPressureTubeReactors.

-3- XIIh60/77-EN
Thesuggestedprogrammeis"based,onacomprehensive Betofconsultations at
thetechnicallevel;ithas"beenexamined "bytheScientific andTechnical
CommitteeofEuratomwhohavegivenafavourableopinion.
-Threespecifictopicshavebeenidentifiedwheremaximumpriorityis
necessarytoimproveandconsolidateexistingtechnicalknowledge s
(a)Thelossofcoolantaccident(LOCA)andsubsequentcorrect
functioningandeffectoftheemergencycorecoolingsystem(ECCS).
(b)Theprotectionofnuclearinstallations againstgasoloudexplosions.
(c)Theescapeofradioactivefissionproductsanddispersioninthe
atmospherefollowingareactoraccident.
TheintentionoftheCommissionisthatworkonthesetopicscaneachbe
carriedout,inparallel,andinacollaborative manner,atanumberof
organisations withintheCommunity.Inthecaseofexperimental workthe
totalcosttotheCommunitycanbeconsiderably reducedbymakinguseof
highcapitaloostexperimental facilitiesalreadyexistingwithin
CommunityMemberStates.
Theoverallaimofthisprogrammeistosupplyindustryandgovernmental
organisations withnecessarybasicinformation toconsolidate thesafeopera­
tionandassessmentofthermalwaterreactorsinuseandunderconstruction
today-thatisthosetypesofnuclearplantprovidingthemajorityofcurrent
nuclearelectricity generation.
Theproposeddurationoftheprogrammeisfiveyears(mid1978-mid1983).
Theprogrammewillbeimplemented undercontraots.Intheexecutionofthis
programmetheCommissionwillbeassistedbytheAdvisoryCommitteeon
ProgrammeManagementforreactorsafetyresearch(directaction)whichwill
thereforeexerciseitsconsultative r61eonindirectactionsaswellas
direotaction.
2.1.Workintheareaofthelossofcoolantaccident(LOCA)andthe
functioningoftheemergencycorecoolingsystem(ECCS).
Duetothenatureofnuclearreactorsanacoidentwherebyprimarycoolant
islosthasbeenidentifiedasamajorfaultconditionnecessitating detailed
studyandcarefullydesignedsafetysystems.

-4-XII/760/77-EN
Becauseofthephenomenaofdelayedheatcaused "bythedecayoffission
productsitisimpossibletocompletelyandinstantaneously terminatethe
productionofheat.Thusifaruptureoftheprimarycircuitoccurscausing
lossofprimarycoolantitisnecessary,evenwiththereactorshutdown,
tomaintainadequatecoolingofthereactorcore.
Reactorsafetyassessmentislargelybasedontheoreticalstudiesusing
computercodes,thevalidityofwhicharedependentonexperimental studies
coveringtherangefrombasicresearchthroughsingleeffectteststo
integralandlargeinpiletests.Numerousprogrammescurrentlyexistinthis
"bothinsideandoutsidetheCommunity -,includingthedirectaction
programmeattheJRC,anditisclearlynotpossibletodescribeallthese
indetail.Manyareinterconnected andsomeoverlappingisnecessaryasa
checkbetweenthevariousprogrammes.Itisafactthatwaterreactorsare
beinglicensedtooperatecommercially whiletheseresearchprogrammesare
underwaystudyinginmoredetailvariousimportantphenomena,suchasoccur
duringemergencycorecooling.Themathematical modelsandassociated com­
putercodesdevelopedforthedesignandlicensingprocess(theso-called
"licensingcodes"comparedtothe"bestestimatecodes")havebuiltincon­
servativemarginsinordertoensuresafety.Thesetheoretical andexpert-
mentalprogrammeswillallowabetterunderstanding andapossiblereduction
ofsomeofthesemarginsinordertoenablereactorstobesafelyoperated
moreefficiently .ClearlyaCommunityprogrammeofresearchmusttakeinto
accounttheextensivetheoretical andexperimental workbeingcarriedout,
particularly intheUSAandtheJRCiBpra.Athoroughexamination ofthiB
workshowsanattemptontheonehandtoexecuteexperiments underconditions
moreandmoreapproachingrealaccidentconditionsandontheothertolook
intothethermohydraulic phenomenainamoredetailedmannerduringthedif­
ferentstagesofanaccidentcausedbythelossofprimarycoolant.
The1977-1980directactionprogrammeoftheJRChasalreadydevotedalarge
efforttotheinitialblowdownprocess.Howeverquiteanumberofphenomena
arestilltobeanalysedandspecifiedparticularly duringthesubsequent
stagesofaLOCAwherere-wetting-refloodingofthecoreoccurafterthe
completeorpartialuncoveringofthefuelelements*

-5- XII/760/77-EN
Theexperimentsproposedundertheindirectactionprogrammeincludethe
simulationoftheproductionofnucleardecayheatbydirectorindireot
electricalheatingofthepinsandcanbeclassifiedinthreecategories :
-studyofthebehaviourofasinglepinwithdifferentvariationsof
fillingwithparticularobservation oftheoladbehaviourandthe
mechanismofheattransferatthequenchinglevel;
-studyofthebehaviourofabundleofpinsandthethermalandhydraulic
phenomenanotonlyatthequenchinglevelbutalsointheupperpartof
thevesselwithdifferentoutflowconditions ;
-studyofthesamehydraulicandthermalparametersforabundleofdefor­
medpinsthusdisturbingthehydrauliccharacteristics ofcooling.
Theseproposedstudiesdonotooverthefieldofin-pileexperiments tnor
thelargeintegraltests.
Acooperative programmeofinvestigations tobeimplemented byresearch
contractsintheresearchcentresofmembercountriesoftheCommunity.
COMMLJNITY CONTRIBUTION :4805000EUA
2.2.Theprotection ofnuclearinstallations againstgascloudexplosions
Inordertodeterminethenecessaryprotectionofnuclearpowerplants
againstexternalexplosionsabetterunderstanding ofthephenomenaof
unconfinedgascloudexplosionsisrequired,inparticularthefollowing
items: •
-Assessmentofpreviousmajorincidents ;
-Studyofflammablematerialreleasecharacteristics {
-Studyofexplosivegascloudformationanddispersion ;
-Studyofflammability andexplosivity ;
-Estimationofincidentpressurewavesgeneratedbyunconfinedgas
oloudexplosions ;
-Interaction ofincidentpressurewaveswithtargetstructures f
-Studyofstructuralresponsetoimposedpressureloadings.

-6- XII/760/77-EN
Thepresent programme will deal with theabove items andwill include both
theoretical andexperimental work .Several establishments within theCommu­
nity already have alimited current programme ofwork inthis field .
The JRC runs aresearoh activity which has strong connections with the last
two items oftheabove mentioned list .The object ofthis Community action
istoencourage cooperation inthis activity andtoreinforce andextend an
integral programme ofwork .
Anexperimental andtheoretical cooperative programme tobeimplemented by
means ofresearch oontracts inCommunity research establishements .
COMMJNITY CONTRIBUTION x800000 EUA
This figure includes possible small technical theoretical studies tobe
financed completely bytheCommission .
r
2.3 .The escape ofradioactive fission products and dispersion inthe
atmosphere following areactor accident .
Models describing the release offission products from nuclear plant
andtheir dispersion intheatmosphere have become increasingly important
inconnection with evaluating therisk and consequences totheenvironment ,
particularly inconnection with postulated accidents .Such models are a
major component ofrecent well publicised studies onreactor safety (for
example theU.S. Rasmus sen-Study WASH 1400 )andaretherefore very relevant
tothecurrent public debate onthecomparison ofnuclear andnon-nuolear
risks .Also thequestion ofsuch dispersion isofparticular concern to
theCommunity because ofthepossibility ofdispersion ofradioactivity
spreading across national boundaries following areactor accident inone
country .
Many such mathematical models have nowbeen developed with however varying
complexity andcharacteristics .Thedevelopment ofsuch complex models
involving turbulent diffusion ofplumes with itsinterdependence onmeteo­
rological andtopographical conditions isitself adifficult task .Also the
complications areaugmented bytheaddition ofradiation effects .Thus expe­
rimental verification andimprovement ofsuch models isnecessary .

-7- XII/760/77-M
Itistherefore proposed that initially adetailed study andcomparison of
these model3 should beundertaken with aview totheir suitability for
European conditions .Such astudy will indicate exactly where experimental
verifications andimprovements arerequired .
Itseems forexample that more information isrequired onvertical dispersion
andfor releases atcoastal sites and dispersion over water .
Thesuggested programme consists ofinitial theoretical andsubsequent
experimental work taking inaccount theresearch already performed bythe
JRCunder theEnvironment Direct Action Programme .Also tobeconsidered
isother relevant work underway including that within the Euratora Radiation
Protection Programme .
Anexperimental andtheoretical cooperative programme tobeimplemented
bymeans ofresearch contracts inCommunity research establishments .
This figure includes possible small technical theoretical studies tobe
financed completely bythe Commission .
3.Financial and staff resources required
The fundB and staff required for this programme are asfollows :COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION :1400 000 EUA
Operatingbudget 7005 000 EUA
Staff 3A+IB+1C
Staff costs 1469 000EUA
Administrative expenses 326000EUA
TOTAL FUNDS REQUIRED 8800000EUA

-8- XII/760/77-EN
PROPOSAL FOR ACOUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING APROGRAMME OFRESEARCH FOR THE
EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY ONSAFETY INTHERMAL WATER REACTORS
(INDIRECT NUCLEAR ACTION )
TheCouncil oftheEuropean Communities ,
Having regard totheTreaty establishing theEuropean Atomio Energy Community ,
andinparticular Artiole 7thereof ;
Having regard totheproposal oftheCommission presented after consultation
with theScientific andTechnical Committee ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEurppean Parliament ;
Having regard totheOpinion oftheEconomic aridSocial Committee }
Having regard totheCouncil resolution of22July 1975 (l) "thetechnolo­
gical problems ofnuclear safety ;
(2Having regard totheCouncil resolution of18July 1977 onadirect
action programme onreactor safety research ;
Whereas thepromotion ofprogrammes ofnuclear safety research isone ofthe
Community 'sessential ways ofcontributing tothe safe production ofnuclear
power andtotheprotection ofthepopulation andtheenvironment ;
Whereas itisopportune tocomplement thedirect action programme byan
indirect action programme ofresearch ;
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION s
Article 1
Aprogramme ofresearch onthesafety ofthermal water reactors ,asBetout
intheAnnex ,shall beadopted foraperiod offive years starting on
1July 1978# TheAnnex forms apart ofthis decision *
Official journal oftheEuropean Communities N°CI85-14August 1975
2)Official journal oftheEuropean Communities N°L200-8August 1977

-9- XII/760/77-Sîï
Article2
Forimplementation ofthisprogramme,theamountoftheexpenditure
commitmentsisestimatedto"be8800000EUAandtheCommissionstaff
shallbefivepersons.
Article3
TheprogrammedefinedintheAnnexcan"bereviewedattheendofthe
seoondyear,aooordingtotheappropriate procedures.
Article4
TheAdvisoryCommitteeonManagementofthedirectactionprogrammeon
reactorsafetyresearohsetupbytheCouncilresolutionof18July1977
isalsocompetentforadviceonthisindirectactionprogramme.
DoneatBrussels
FortheCouncil
ThePresident
^OfficialjournaloftheEuropeanCommunitiesN°C192-11August1977

XI1/760/77-EN
ANNEX
INDIRECT FITCLEARACTION
SAFETYRESEARCHINTHERMALWATERREACTOR
Thepurposeoftheprogrammeshallbethecollaborative investigation of
phenomenainordertofurtheradvancethesafeoperationofthermalwater
nuclearreactors.
Theprogrammeoonsistsofthreeparts,eachbeingatheoretical and
experimental studyononeofthefollowingparticulartopics:
(a)Thelossofcoolantaccident(LOCA)andthefunctioningandperformance
oftheemergencycoreooolingsystem(ECCS);
(b)Theprotectionofnuclearplantagainstgasoloudexplosions ;
(c)Thereleaseanddistribution ofradioactivefissionproductsinthe
atmospherefollowingareactoraccident.
Theprogrammewillbemainlyimplemented undercontractwithpossiblysome
Bmalltechnicaltheoreticalstudiestobefinancedcompletelybythe
Commission.

FINANCIAL RECORD
1978 BUDGET .
A.PART I
1.Relevant budget heading code
Poste 3363
2.Title of "budget heading
Research onthermal -water reactor safety
3.Legal "basis
Article 7ofthe Euratora Treaty
4#Description ,objectives and .justification ofthe pro.ject
4.0.Description oftheproject /persons concerned
4.0.0 .Description
AEURATOM research programme onthermal water reactor safety
4.0.1 .Persons concerned (outside theCommission )
4*0.1.0 .Category
Nuclear research establishments
4*0.1.1 .Nurnber
Cannot bedecided until after tenders have been returned
and assessed .
4*0.1.2 .Geographical location
Within theCommunity –Comment in4.0.1.1 .applies .
4*1.Objectives ofthe pro.ject
4.1.0 .General Objectives
IntheCouncil Resolution of22July 1975 onthetechnological pro­
blems ofnuclear safety theCouncil considered itnecessary "... to
strengthen Community efforts tocoordinate applied research programmes
inorder tomake thebest possible use oftheresources available in
theCommunity andtheMember States both technically andfinancially
whilst avoiding asfaraspossible unnecessary duplication :

;-2-
■these efforts shall beaimed a"timproving systematic exchanges ofinformation ,
promoting concerted action andcooperation between specialized bodies and
institutes and stimulating where appropriate thedevelopment ofCommunity
programmes "
Itshould also benoted that theanxiety felt bythegeneral public as
regards nuclear power isamajor obstacle tothedevelopment ofnuclear
capacity within theCommunity .
The overall aim ofthis programme istosupply industry and gevernmental
organizations with thenecessary basic information toenable them tocon­
solidate the safe operation andassessment ofwater-reactors inuse and
under construction today -i.e. thetypes ofnuclear plant most commonly
used fornuclear electricity generation atthepresent time .
Thus thaaim oftheprogramme istoeffect theanalysis ofphenomena ona
collaborative basis inorder tofurther advance the safe operation of
water-cooled reactors .
4.1.1.Specific objectives ofthe programme and its contribution towards
the general objective
The Commission Working Group TT°2which deals with water reactor
safety research hasidentified three specific topics where maximum
priority isnecessary toimprove andconsolidate the present
state ofthe art :
(a)theloss-of-coolant accident (LOCA )andsubsequent correct
functioning andeffect oftheemergency core cooling system (ECCS )
(b)theprotection ofnuclear installations against gascloud explosions
(c)theescape ofradioactive fission produots anddispersion in
theatmosphere following areactor accident
Itisintended that work oneach ofthese topics becarried out ,in
parallel ,andonacollaborative basis ,atanumber oforganisations
within theCommunity .

-3-
4.2.Justification oftheprogrammechosentoattaintheobjectives
Theproposedprogrammeis"basedonanumberoftechnicalleveldiscussions
"betweenexpertsdrawnfromawiderangeofinstitutesandorganizations
withintheCommunity,thusensuringthemaximumpossiblecoordination
withtherelevantnuclearorganizations intheMemberStates.
ThisdraftCommunityresearchanddevelopment programmeisintendedto
becomplementary toexistingandplannedprogrammesofLWRresearchin:
-CommunityMemberStates
-Non-MemberStatesadvancednucleartechnologi.es (e.g.,USA,Japan,
.Sweden)
-theJointResearchCentreoftheCommission (directaction)
5.Financialimplicationsofthepro.jects(inKJA)
5.O.Implications inrespectofexpenditure
-onCommunitybudget 8800000
-bynationaladministrations (l)-
-byothersectorsatnationallevel(l)-
TOTAL
5.0.0Multiannual term
Commitments
1978 1979 1980 198119821983
Staff
Manag.
Contracts94000
26000
1500000270000
56000
3000000290000
62000
1000000310000
68000
1000000330000
74000
505000175000
40000
TOTAL1620000332600013520001378000909000215000
tobedefinedlater(seeremark4«0.1.1.)

Payments
1978 1979 1980 19811
1982 1983
Staff
Manag.
Contracts94000
26000
500000270000
56000
2000000290000
62000
2000000.310000
68000
1300000330000
74000
1000000175000
40000
205000
TOTAL6200002326000235200016780001404000420000
5.0.1.Evaluation method
a)Staffexpenditure
Theestimatedstaffrequiredforthisprogrammeare:
2A,IB,1Cfor6monthsof1978
3A,IB,1Cfortheremainderoftheprogramme.
Inadditiontostaffnumberestimates,theevaluationtakesaccount
ofthedataoftheCouncilDecisionof21.12.1976 ,ontheadaptation
ofsalaryofEuropeanCommunitystaffandapplicablecorrectioncoef­
ficientsaddingtoit-onahypothetical basis-possibleneeds
originating fromthegeneralevolutionofpricesintheCommunity.
Theratesadoptedarethoseusedforthecalculation ofthethree-
yearforeoast1978/1980.
b)Contractsexpenditures
Duetothenatureofthesubjectandtothequalifications ofthe
contractants ,auniformevaluationmethodcannotbeestablished.
Inanycase,theconsultative Committee,providedforinthedraft
decision,willbeconsultedontheappropriation ofthepayments.
5«1.Incidence onthefunds:
-Communityincometaxonstaff
-Staffcontribution forretirement fund
6.Fundingaotion
6.0
6.1
6.2
6.3»Fundstobeincludedinfuture(s)budget(s)