Operation experience department

Constant collection, accumulation, analysis and dissemination of information on the experience of operating nuclear power plants is, of course, a key aspect of the VNIIIAES. It is the use of the database that makes it possible to make optimal decisions in order to increase the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants.

VNIIAES maintains a niche operation database updated both following any negative events (as a result of violations, deviations, defects in work, equipment failures) and with the best practices (obtained by the use of the ‘Rosatom’ Production System, among other things). By order of Rosenergoatom Joint-Stock Company, development trends of the nuclear power in Russia and abroad are identified on this base, the cooperation of operating organizations with WANO and the IAEA is analyzed. As a result, it becomes possible to do something even faster, better, safer, the better way.

A big piece of work is associated with reporting on the results of deviations and violations. Corrective measures are given in these reports, the implementation of which can lead and, as a rule, leads to positive results in the operation of nuclear power plants.

The Department of Operational Experience Analysis is engaged in replenishing the industry database, on the basis of which a wide variety of activities is carried out. The majority of VNIIAES departments also use this base whenever needed and rely on it when resolving many issues. On its basis, various regulations, standards, and expert opinions are developed. It is also one of the key elements of the nuclear knowledge base that is now actively exported by the Rosatom State Corporation.

The nuclear knowledge management system accumulating the experience of operating nuclear power plants provides, among other things, the ability to establish nuclear infrastructure from scratch in countries that are still embarking on the development of nuclear energy. Recently, we worked with the government of Bolivia, which was trained on how to develop nuclear infrastructure in this country. We cooperate in the same area with Zambia and Ghana.

VNIIAES has developed all the methodology documents of the Rosenergoatom Joint-Stock Company for the preservation of nuclear power knowledge. We provide the primary methodological support in the implementation of Russian-designed nuclear power plants at foreign sites.