NEWS FROM THE FINNISH NUCLEAR SOCIETY (ATS)

FinNuclear Network presents its activities to ATS

On 21 September, in Säätytalo, Helsinki, Leena Jylhä from Prizztech Oy presented the activities of the FinNuclear network to ATS members at their latest meeting. A total of 26 members participated.

The FinNuclear network started its activities as a part of the Energy Cluster within the National Center of Expertise Programme. This programme aims to promote the improvement of competence and of business opportunities for the Finnish energy industry. Nuclear technology is one of the programme’s main focus areas.

The company PrizzTech Oy co-ordinates the work of the FinNuclear. Finnish utilities like Fennovoima, Fortum & TVO, as well as industrial companies like Pöyry, Dekra, Telatek, Hollming, Outokumpu, Kraftanalage Arge OL3 and Wärtsilä, all participate in the network’s Co-ordination Group. The Energy Technology Cluster Programme, the Federation of Energy Industries, the Federation of Technology Industries, the Ministry of Labour and Industry and the VTT also participate.

The presentation of Leena Jylhä is available, in Finnish, on the ATS web-site: (www.ats-fns.fi/archive/esitys_jylha_2010.pdf). Information in English about the network is available via the following link: www.finnuclear.fi .

ATS-seniors visited VTT

The activities of the ATS-seniors continued with a visit to VTT in Otaniemi, Espoo. VTT is a national research center with nearly 3000 employees, of which about 200 work full- time in the nuclear field (www.vtt.fi/?lang=en). Altogether, 15 seniors participated in the event. One of the laboratories visited was the experimental facility for the testing of deforming and hard missile impacts against concrete structures (see Fig.1).

The coming events of ATS-seniors include a common seminar with ATS Young Generation, entitled: "Atomic power for Finland". This seminar will be take place on 17 November, in Säätytalo, Helsinki.

The IMPACT test rig, at Otaniemi

Fig. 1: The IMPACT test rig, at Otaniemi

The ATS-seniors visited the IMPACT test rig at Otaniemi. Click on the following link: (virtual.vtt.fi )

Erkki Laurila Award presented to Pertti Siltanen and Elja Kaloinen

Pertti Siltanen and Elja Kaloinen received the ATS’ annual Erkki Laurila Award for their paper "HEXBU-3D -programme: description of the neutron flux in the core of a VVER-reactor". Since 2001, the Erkki Laurila Award has been given to the best scientific paper published in Ydintekniikka - the magazine of the Finnish Nuclear Society. The article selected was published in the first issue of the magazine, back in 2009.

The article was selected by the editors of the magazine and the choice ratified by the board of ATS. Explaining their decision the editors stated "The paper of Mr. Siltanen and Mr. Kaloinen is a description of significant development work carried out by two experienced Finnish specialists. The results of this work are widely used today, for example in the design of the reloads of Loviisa NPP. The high-level scientific work behind the development of HEXBU-3D - code is also very creditable".

Olkiluoto 3 installation works continue: the closure head of the reactor pressure vessel is lifted inside the reactor building

The closure head of the Olkiluoto 3 reactor pressure vessel has been lifted inside the reactor building. The introduction of the main reactor island components of Olkiluoto 3 unit was continued on 30 November. This time the closure head of the reactor pressure vessel, weighing 90 tons, was lifted inside the reactor building. The closure head is waiting on a storage rack for its final placement on top of the pressure vessel. The rack is the same during outages. Just like the pressure vessel, the closure head is made of forged ferrite steel and clad with stainless steel on the inside to prevent corrosion.