The BMUB presented the request for advice on spent fuel pool cooling during plant decommissioning. The consultations are to be carried out by the RSK Committee on PLANT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (AST). The RSK was informed about the German-Belgian expert meeting on the topic of RPV in Doel-3/Tihange-2 on 02.02.2018 and continued its consultation on the statement on component cooling water and service water systems (Zwischen- und Nebenkühlwassersysteme).

The RSK was informed about the status of consultations on increased oxide layer thicknesses in the upper area of fuel assemblies with M5 cladding tubes (Erhöhte Oxidschichtdicken im oberen Bereich von Brennelementen mit M5-Hüllrohren). The progress made so far with regard to the related statement was discussed. The Committee on ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS (EE) reported on the topics of test scope of RPS memory modules (Prüfumfang von RSP-Baugruppen) and proof of loss of coolant accident resistance for electrical and instrumentation and control (I&C) components during operation; implementation of the requirements of KTA 3706 (Betriebsbegleitender Nachweis der Kühlmittelverlust-Störfallfestigkeit von Komponenten der Elektro- und Leittechnik; Umsetzung der Anforderungen der KTA 3706).

The RSK determined the voting for the 72nd meeting of the Nuclear Safety Standards Commission (KTA) on 14.11.2017. The RSK consulted on the reference report relating to the definition of load assumptions and assessment of Konvoi plants of the RSK summary statement on man-made hazards, aircraft crash (Zusammenfassende Stellungnahme der RSK zu zivilisatorisch bedingten Einwirkungen, Flugzeugabsturz - Teilbericht: Festlegung der Lastannahmen und Bewertung der Konvoi-Anlagen). The consultations on the revised version will be continued at the next meeting.

The RSK presented its proposals on appointments to the RSK committees to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). GRS and the Physikerbüro Bremen informed the RSK about the evaluation of statements of the French GPR from the years 2015 to 2017. The RSK will continue discussing specific statements in detail. The RSK committees reported on some relevant current topics of consultations. The RSK convened the ad-hoc working group on fuel cladding corrosion.

The BMUB presented advisory requests to the RSK on ageing management in the field of electrical and instrumentation and control (I&C) systems (Alterungsmanagement im Bereich der Elektro- und Leittechnik) as well as on factors contributing to the formation of oxide layers on fuel rod cladding of fuel assemblies in German pressurised water reactors (Beitragenden Faktoren zur Bildung von Oxidschichten an Brennstabhüllrohren von Brennelementen in deen Druckwasserreaktoren). The RSK commissioned the committees concerned to deal with these issues. The RSK Committee on PLANT AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING (AST) presented its consultations on the topic of competing protection goals (Konkurrierende Schutzziele). The RSK adopted the statement on the evaluation of the implementation of RSK recommendations in response to Fukushima (Bewertung der Umsetzung von RSK-Empfehlungen im Nachgang zu Fukushima).

The statement on the evaluation of the implementation of RSK recommendations in response to Fukushima (Bewertung der Umsetzung von RSK-Empfehlungen im Nachgang zu Fukushima) is to be revised on the basis of further information submitted again for consultations. The statement on component cooling water and service water systems (Zwischen- und Nebenkühlwassersysteme) was adopted, SWR-specific aspects will be added in a forthcoming meeting.

The BMUB informed the RSK that the first meeting of the German-Belgian Nuclear Commission will be held on 7/8 June to present, among other things, results of RSK discussions on the topic of flaws in the reactor pressure vessels of the Belgian nuclear power plants Doel-3 and Tihange-2 detected during ultrasonic inspections (Ultraschallanzeigen in den Reaktordruckbehältern (RDB) der belgischen Kernkraftwerke Doel-3 und Tihange-2). The RSK was informed about the extent of the components affected by elevated carbon contents (in particular steam generators) in French plants; in addition, documents had been falsified at the manufacturer’s. The RSK began the consultation on the statement on component cooling water and service water systems (Zwischen- und Nebenkühlwassersysteme).

The RSK was informed about the reportable events concerning increased oxide layer thickness on fuel rod cladding tubes of fuel assemblies (Erhöhte Oxidschichtdicke an Brennstab-Hüllrohren von Brennelementen) in the Brokdorf nuclear power plant. The RSK recommended first of all inspecting the area between the eighth and the ninth spacer during the next revisions in the German nuclear power plants.

The RSK adopted the statements on boundary conditions for design basis accident analyses [available in German only] (Randbedingungen der Nachweisführung zur Störfallbeherrschung) and on the evaluation of the implementation or RSK recommendations of the safety review of German research reactors [available in German only] (Bewertung der Umsetzung der Empfehlungen der RSK aus der Sicherheitsüberprüfung deer Forschungsreaktoren).

The RSK was informed about the evaluation of the operating reports of the nuclear power plants of 2014. Furthermore, the consultation results of a working group on the flaws in the reactor pressure vessels of the Belgian nuclear power plants Doel-3 and Tihange-2 detected during ultrasonic inspections (Ultraschallanzeigen in den Reaktordruckbehältern (RDB) der belgischen Kernkraftwerke Doel-3 und Tihange-2) were discussed. The consultation on the statement on the evaluation of the implementation of RSK recommendations in response to Fukushima (Bewertung der Umsetzung von RSK-Empfehlungen im Nachgang zu Fukushima) for the German BWR plants was started.

The RSK discussed and adopted the recommendation on damages to steam generator tubes due to stress corrosion cracking – Measures to ensure the integrity of the steam generator tubes (Schäden an Dampferzeuger(DE)-Heizrohren durch Spannungsrisskorrosion – Maßnahmen zur Sicherstellung der Integrität der Heizrohre) (due to new findings in the follow-up to the meeting, the recommendation was revised at the 512th meeting on 22/23.10.2019 and then adopted in the amended version). The recommendation on the permissibility of test and maintenance activities as well as definition of measures for limiting the consequences of events during mid-loop operation (Zulässigkeit von Prüf- und Instandhaltungstätigkeiten sowie die Festlegung von Maßnahmen zur Ereignisbeherrschung bei Mitte-Loop-Betrieb) was also discussed and adopted. The recommendation on assessing the effectiveness of measures to prevent recurrence of events (Bewertung der Wirksamkeit von Maßnahmen zur Vermeidung der Wiederholung von Ereignissen) was discussed and will be discussed again after revision.