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ePaper created 2014-04-30, 16:22:09 | version 1.30.01
discovered 02.13 FOCUS WWW.Hzdr.DE // Sören Kliem is head of the Reactor Safety group at HZDR. He explains in a conversation with "discovered" why certain aspects of reactor safety research continue to be important, despite the energy turnaround with its nuclear phase-out decision in Germany. _Interview . Simon Schmitt "It is about actively maintaining our expertise" Dr. Kliem, you were just at the 23rd Symposium of the Atomic Energy Research (AER) organization in Strbské Pleso, Slovakia. Was there a special topic this year? The conference normally has no special topic as a primary focus. It is much more an on-going exchange of information related to developments in safety research being conducted on what are known as water-water energy reactors, or WWERs. What is involved with this? This is a Russian type pressurized water reactor design. The term water-water stands for water-moderated and water- cooled, which means the water serves to both moderate the neutrons and remove the heat produced as well. This is exactly the same as in corresponding reactors designed in the West. The most important differences between these reactors lie primarily in the arrangement of the fuel rods in the reactor core and the orientation of the steam generators. Do you see any trend at present for this type of reactor? There actually is increased export activity of technology in this area by the Russians at the moment. Suitable preparations are being made, and WWERs are being built in India, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Turkey at present. In addition, reactors of this type are on the list of reactors being offered under current tenders for new reactor construction in the Czech Republic and Finland. Photo: Areva