The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced that on the 19th, it held the 213th Nuclear Safety and Security Commission meeting in written form and deliberated and approved the "Draft for Approval of Operational Changes at Nuclear Facilities."
The Commission explained that it had confirmed the safety of the changes to the licensing documents for Hanbit Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 and the installation of new equipment at Shin-Wolsong Units 1 and 2, both of which were requested by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, through a technical review conducted by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS).
As a result of retesting the durability of the "control rod position transmitters" at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 under conditions such as long-term radiation exposure and earthquakes, it was confirmed that the devices meet the allowable standards throughout their 40-year lifespan. The control rod position transmitter is a device that detects the position of the control rods, which regulate the output of the reactor, and sends corresponding signals.
The Commission stated that it had confirmed the suitability of installing new equipment to inject zinc into the reactor coolant at Shin-Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2, which is intended to remove radioactive substances deposited on reactor-related equipment and thereby reduce radiation exposure for workers, in accordance with licensing standards.
This equipment was first introduced at Hanul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 in 2010 and has since been installed at a total of 15 domestic nuclear power units, with its effectiveness and safety having been demonstrated. It is planned to be sequentially installed at the remaining nuclear power plants as well.
The Commission announced that it had finally approved the relevant applications for operational changes, judging them to meet the licensing standards under the Nuclear Safety Act.
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