Network on neutron techniques standardisation (NET)

Información del proyecto

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 2022

Fecha de inicio

Fecha de finalización

Financiado con arreglo a

• Programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out by means of direct actions for the European Community by the Joint Research Centre, 1998-2002

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Coordinado por

Institute for Energy
Netherlands

Objetivo

Specific Objectives

- to develop, improve and maintain key HFR neutron beam facilities and auxiliary installations;
- to provide the necessary infra-structure and knowledge basis for the efficient support of current institutional and shared cost research activities as well as the new activity on " IASCC and Neutron Research Technology Development within CC";
- to closely examine the interface(s) of NET with other IE institutional networks and investigate the feasibility and added-value for establishing NET as either an autonomous network or a horizontal network cutting across existing network(s);
- to strive for standardisation or harmonisation of neutron test methods by establishing accurate and reliable procedures for making non-destructive measurements, tested by industry and suitable for the preparation of European standards;
- to use neutron techniques in order to calibrate other methods which are usually destructive or semi-destructive or which can only measure near surface;
- to define calibrants suitable for maintaining standards.
Planned Deliverables

Specific deliverables to DGs:
- Launching of the NET European Network (either autonomous or horizontal cutting across existing)
- Support of the EU policy maker in harmonizing neutron methods for structural integrity and ageing evaluation through efficient interaction between NET, NESC and AMES (TREN);
- Support to ELARG efforts through harmonization of nuclear safety culture within EU and CC;
- Support to RTD Programme on training and mobility of young scientists
As a result of the research:
- Report on project related HFR neutron facilities development (HB3b, HB4, HB5 & HB8)
- Development and commissioning of hot cells for the HFR/HB4 diffractometer (LCNDF);
- Re-commissioning of the enhanced HFR/HB3b (SANS) facility
- Development and preliminary results of round robins for ageing evaluation (impurities and defects analyses) based on SANS (NESC and AMES related)
- Evaluation of results of computational round robins for residual stress in bimetallic welds and RPV internals welds (NESC and AMES related);
- Periodic reports on relevant CEN/ISO standardization activities (e.g. CEN/TC 138/AHG7 & WG101);
- Standardisation or harmonisation of neutron test methods by establishing accurate and reliable procedures for making non-destructive measurements, tested by industry and suitable for the preparation of European standards;
(new CEN/ISO Standards);
- Agreement on suitable calibrants;
- Annual scientific reports of Trainee scientists including related developments at their home labs.

Summary of 2001 Deliverables: 31/12/2001

- Definition of round robins and of suitable calibrants for impurities and defects analyses based on SANS
- Definition of suitable calibrants for neutron diffraction analysis;
- Definition of computational round robin for residual stress in bimetallic welds;
- Drafting of Final Experimental Protocols for residual stress analysis based on neutron diffraction (CEN/TC 138 AHG 7)

Annexes:

Current collaborations within Europe:

Neutron facilities:

Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, UK;

Risø National Laboratory, Denmark;

NFL, Sweden;

Institute Laue-Langevin, France;

Hahn-Meitner- Institute, Germany;

Laboratoire Leon-Brillouin ,France;

GKSS-Forschungszentrum, Germany;

Centre for Fundamental and Applied Neutron Research, Czech Republic;

AEKI, Hungary;

Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering Romania.

Universities, Research Institutes:

Salford University, UK;

Manchester University, UK;

Imperial College, UK;

University of Reims, France;

University of Kiel, Germany;

University of Krakow, Poland;

University of Ancona, Italy;

University of Pisa, Italy;

NCSR Demokritos, Greece;

Technical University Košice, Slovakia.

Industrial partners:

ROLLS-ROYCE, UK;

VOLKSWAGEN, Germany;

BRITISH AEROSPANCE, UK;

SCHUNK, Germany;

EDF, France;

FRAMATOME, France;

SIEMENS, Germany;

BRITISH ENERGY, UK;

ANSALDO, Italy.

Output Indicators and Impact

Objectives

Output indicators
(Specific actions taken)

Impact (long term results)

To enhance industrial confidence in neutron techniques;

- number of experimental and computational round robins organised and managed by IE;
- number of experimental protocols drafted;
- Number of agreed modelling procedures;
- number of meetings and of reports on relevant CEN - NDT activities.

Availability of new harmonized standards, within the enlarged EU, on residual stress and defects analyses, based on neutron diffraction and small angle neutron scattering. These are powerful NDT methods with high future potential.

To train young European scientists in neutron methods

- Number of young scientists trained;
- Number of reports of trainees including related developments in their home labs;
- Number of publications, workshops with the cooperation of young scientists.

Harmonized culture base across the enlarged EU in nuclear safety and in NDT based on neutron methods

To strengthen the HFR scientific research output on neutron techniques

- HFR neutron beam facilities re-commissioned;
- Development of ancillary equipment.

HFR established as reference lab for neutron techniques with a strong position in the European Research Area

To enhance the performance and safety of European Nuclear Power production

- Complementary investigations for other European networks such as NESC (Structural Integrity) and AMES (Materials Ageing)
- Large number of industrial partners

Improved structural integrity, reliability and plant life time of European nuclear power Industry

To support the Enlargement action

- number of industrial and academic participants from CC in NET
- Increased number of trainees from CC at the HFR

Integration of CCs into the European Research Area.
Summary of the project

The primary objective of this project is the development and management of a European Network on standardisation of neutron beam assisted measurement methods - neutron diffraction, small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and neutron radiography - within the enlarged EU.

In this context, this project strives to revitalize the scientific research environment at the HFR through:
- active HFR participation in the performance of relevant round robin exercises;
- active JRC leadership in the drafting codes and standards relevant to neutron methods;
- training of young scientists in neutron techniques at the HFR
- efficient support to several other networks and relevant shared cost activities concerning structural integrity assessment of primarily welded nuclear structural components.

The activity contributes to the enhancement of performance and safety of European Nuclear Power production by supporting the structural integrity and the safe operation of ageing reactors, and neutron research.

Rationale

While neutron methods have been developed and extensively used in fundamental and applied research throughout the last half century, it is only in the last two decades that they have been recognised as excellent means for advanced engineering applications and in particular in structural integrity assessment. However, the European industry is hampered from broadly using neutron research due to lack of harmonised and standardised testing methods.
Thus there is an urgent need for a concerted action by all actors towards the further development and standardisation of neutron methods (diffraction, small angle scattering, radiography) in relation to structural integrity assessment (micro-structural characterisation, residual stress analysis, defects analysis, grain size and texture investigations). This can be readily achieved through the development of a European Network on Neutron Techniques.

Potential participants in such a network are academics, industries and European neutron diffraction facilities (HFR, ISIS, STUDSVIK, ILL, HMI) involved in the RESTAND1 project -co-ordinated by JRC-Petten. Several of these are already working with JRC-IE in CEN/TC 138 AHG 7. JRC is the convenor of this Ad Hoc Group, which is charged with the final drafting of the standard on residual stress measurements based on neutron diffraction. Vendors and operators of NPP from the enlarged EU should also participate. In the context of the VAMAS TWA 202 project and related research activities at the HFR, IE has been collaborating with colleagues from other EU neutron facilities (GKSS, LLB), including CC countries, such as Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland. These should also be integrated in the network.

Finally, future collaboration of the European neutron facilities in areas such as defects and precipitation analyses based on SANS has been discussed with HMI, UMAN and LLB and JRC-IE has been asked to lead such future activity.

Based on the above, the JRC has established its capability to act as co-ordinator for the network, and to contribute significantly to the scientific/technical project deliverables. The project provides an excellent opportunity to integrate the fragmented European resources to optimise the utilisation of neutron techniques to the benefit of the European citizen and industry.

The project is closely related to several European Networks operated by JRC-IE. In particular:

- AMES: evolution of residual stress in ageing reactor pressure vessel internals and piping weldments by neutron diffraction, and defects characterization by SANS;
- NESC: Mapping of residual stress in bimetallic welds by neutron diffraction and validation of predictive numerical models based on relevant computational round robins

1 RESTAND: Residual Stress Standard using Neutron Diffraction, European pre-normative research project, co-funded by the DG RTD;
2 VAMAS TWA 20: International pre-normative research project, similar to RESTAND.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

• ciencias agrícolas › agricultura, silvicultura y pesca › agricultura › granos y semillas oleoaginosas
• ingeniería y tecnología › otras ingenierías y tecnologías › ingeniería nuclear

Programa(s)

• FP5-JRC - Programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out by means of direct actions for the European Community by the Joint Research Centre, 1998-2002

Tema(s)

• M05 - EURATOM
• S19 - Nuclear fission safety
• P03 - Nuclear Safety and Safeguards

Convocatoria de propuestas

Datos no disponibles

Régimen de financiación

JRC - Joint Research Centre research

Coordinador

Institute for Energy

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Petten ; Países Bajos
• Coste total: Sin datos