Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety
Low carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions make nuclear energy crucial in decarbonizing the economy. In this context, nuclear safety, and especially the operation of nuclear power plants, remains a critical issue. This article presents a new fractal cluster method of control that impr...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2172 |
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| author | Eduard Khomiak Roman Trishch Joanicjusz Nazarko Miloslav Novotný Vladislavas Petraškevičius |
| author_facet | Eduard Khomiak Roman Trishch Joanicjusz Nazarko Miloslav Novotný Vladislavas Petraškevičius |
| author_sort | Eduard Khomiak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions make nuclear energy crucial in decarbonizing the economy. In this context, nuclear safety, and especially the operation of nuclear power plants, remains a critical issue. This article presents a new fractal cluster method of control that improves the quality of assessing fuel element cladding integrity, which is critical for nuclear and environmental safety. The proposed non-destructive testing method allows for detecting defects on the inner and outer cladding surfaces without removing the elements from the nuclear reactor, which ensures prompt response and prevention of radiation leakage. Studies have shown that the fractal dimension of the cladding surface, which varies from 2.1 to 2.5, indicates significant heterogeneity caused by mechanical damage or corrosion, which can affect its integrity. The density analysis of defect clusters allows quantifying their concentration per unit area, which is an important indicator for assessing the risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities. The data obtained are used to assess the impact of defects on the vessel’s integrity and, in turn, on nuclear safety. The monitoring results are transmitted in real time to the operator’s automated workstation, allowing for timely decision making to prevent radioactive releases and improve environmental safety. The proposed method is a promising tool for ensuring reliable quality control of the fuel element cladding condition and improving nuclear and environmental safety. While the study is based on VVER-1000 reactor data, the flexibility of the proposed methodology suggests its potential applicability to other reactor types, opening avenues for broader implementation in diverse nuclear systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-41d5e498b5864ca896729dffbc14c9ad |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-41d5e498b5864ca896729dffbc14c9ad2025-08-20T02:30:46ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-04-01189217210.3390/en18092172Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental SafetyEduard Khomiak0Roman Trishch1Joanicjusz Nazarko2Miloslav Novotný3Vladislavas Petraškevičius4Department of Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering, Ukraine National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 17 Vadym Manko Street, Khar, 61070 Kharkiv, UkraineDepartment of Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering, Ukraine National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, 17 Vadym Manko Street, Khar, 61070 Kharkiv, UkraineFaculty of Engineering Management, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A, 15-351 Bialystok, PolandFaculty of Civil Engineering, Institute of Building Structures, Brno University of Technology, 602 00 Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Economic Engineering, Faculty of Business Management, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, LithuaniaLow carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions make nuclear energy crucial in decarbonizing the economy. In this context, nuclear safety, and especially the operation of nuclear power plants, remains a critical issue. This article presents a new fractal cluster method of control that improves the quality of assessing fuel element cladding integrity, which is critical for nuclear and environmental safety. The proposed non-destructive testing method allows for detecting defects on the inner and outer cladding surfaces without removing the elements from the nuclear reactor, which ensures prompt response and prevention of radiation leakage. Studies have shown that the fractal dimension of the cladding surface, which varies from 2.1 to 2.5, indicates significant heterogeneity caused by mechanical damage or corrosion, which can affect its integrity. The density analysis of defect clusters allows quantifying their concentration per unit area, which is an important indicator for assessing the risks associated with the operation of nuclear facilities. The data obtained are used to assess the impact of defects on the vessel’s integrity and, in turn, on nuclear safety. The monitoring results are transmitted in real time to the operator’s automated workstation, allowing for timely decision making to prevent radioactive releases and improve environmental safety. The proposed method is a promising tool for ensuring reliable quality control of the fuel element cladding condition and improving nuclear and environmental safety. While the study is based on VVER-1000 reactor data, the flexibility of the proposed methodology suggests its potential applicability to other reactor types, opening avenues for broader implementation in diverse nuclear systems.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2172nuclear safetyenvironmental safetyquality controlfuel elementradiation release preventionnuclear reactor elements |
| spellingShingle | Eduard Khomiak Roman Trishch Joanicjusz Nazarko Miloslav Novotný Vladislavas Petraškevičius Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety Energies nuclear safety environmental safety quality control fuel element radiation release prevention nuclear reactor elements |
| title | Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety |
| title_full | Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety |
| title_fullStr | Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety |
| title_full_unstemmed | Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety |
| title_short | Method of Quality Control of Nuclear Reactor Element Tightness to Improve Environmental Safety |
| title_sort | method of quality control of nuclear reactor element tightness to improve environmental safety |
| topic | nuclear safety environmental safety quality control fuel element radiation release prevention nuclear reactor elements |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2172 |
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