Young women professionals from the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) will be presenting their research findings at the upcoming IAEA International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety: Strengthening Safety of Evolutionary and Innovative Reactor Designs (TIC2022).
The conference, taking place in Vienna from 18 to 21 October 2022, will bring together nuclear safety regulators, plant designers and operators, technical support organizations and other international organizations to reflect on safety considerations related to the new classes of cutting-edge advanced reactor designs for delivering carbon free safe and secure nuclear energy. Examples of evolutionary and innovative reactors include small modular reactors, high temperature gas cooled reactors, lead fast reactors, sodium fast reactors, molten salt reactors and microreactors.
Yanfei Qiu, a MSCFP fellow who has completed her master's studies in nuclear engineering and will be presenting on neutronics design and modelling of a NuScale-based small modular pressurized water reactor (PWR), said: "Being part of the TIC2022 conference programme offers me a unique opportunity to present my Master Thesis based findings before hundreds of international nuclear experts working in the field. This work contributes to the development of new nuclear technologies that will enable us to share the benefits of this reliable, clean, safe and economical source of energy for generations to come."
MSCFP fellow and IAEA intern, Nurberk Sungur, is working on safety analysis of evolutionary and innovative reactors. She highlighted the learning opportunities of the conference. "Performance analysis of passive safety systems of advanced designs under normal and accidental conditions is vital," Sungur said. "Taking part in this event will enable me to present my findings, learn from best practices and become familiar with safety approaches used in other countries." Sungur will be presenting on VVER-1200 (V-491) core cooling reliability during the operation of a passive heat removal system via steam generator.
As part of the conference discussions on simulation and modelling, Valeriia Skliarenko, MSCFP fellow and IAEA intern, will present on the Chinese supercritical water reactor CSR-1000, with a focus on safety features and exploration of hydraulic resistance coefficient correlations. "The areas of advanced simulation and modelling are truly exciting, and I am looking forward to the outcome of the conference deliberations," she said.
The conference will cover a range of topics, including ways of enhancing safety through innovative design features of reactors; the use of advanced simulation and modelling tools and approaches, as well as experimental programmes that support the assessment of the safety performance of reactor designs; trends in safety/risk analysis, and regulatory approaches and experiences in licensing innovative reactor technologies.
"Evolutionary and innovative nuclear reactor designs can play a large role in decarbonizing our economies and are attracting increasing interest worldwide as a green solution to climate change mitigation," said Tatjana Jevremovic, Scientific Secretary of the conference from the IAEA Division of Nuclear Power. "We encourage young professionals interested in learning and networking with international experts in the nuclear field to attend this event to exchange ideas on the design of evolutionary and innovative reactors and ways of improving the safety of innovative technologies."
The IAEA is committed to the effective global deployment of safe and secure of existing and advanced nuclear reactors and recognizes that strong cooperation with key enablers such as regulators, designers, technology holders, operators and other international organizations is crucial in achieving this.
"TIC2022 will strengthen international cooperation in the area of safety of innovative reactors and contribute to the harmonization of safety approaches necessary for a rapid development of innovative reactors, including small modular reactors," said Shahen Poghosyan, Scientific Secretary of the conference from the IAEA Division of Nuclear Installation Safety.
To register for the conference virtually or in person, please visit the conference site and read the guidelines.
Women in the nuclear field
The IAEA strives to increase the representation of women both in the nuclear field in general and in the IAEA in particular, having committed to achieving gender parity - 50 per cent men and 50 per cent women - in professional positions at the Agency by 2025. As part of its effort in this regard, the Agency has established fellowships and training programmes to increase the participation of women and youth in nuclear science.
