"'Hanaro' Automatic Shutdown Not Due to Reactor"

NSSC: "Error Due to Cold Neutron Experimental Facility"

Front view of the 'Hanaro' research reactor building, a research reactor of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute located in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The cause of the automatic shutdown incident of the research reactor 'Hanaro' at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute in December last year was found to be a software error in the control computer of the Cold Neutron Source (CNS) facility, not a reactor defect.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) announced on the 29th that at the 120th meeting, they received a report on the investigation results of the Hanaro automatic shutdown incident and future action plans.

According to the investigation by the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, the shutdown of Hanaro was caused by a software error in the control computer of the Cold Neutron Source (CNS) facility.

The system and equipment integrity of the reactor and the Cold Neutron Source facility, as well as major operating parameters, were all confirmed to be normal, and there was no radiation impact.

The NSSC instructed the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to establish recurrence prevention measures, including supplementing software management procedures.

At the meeting, the NSSC also reviewed and approved the 'Construction Change Permit (draft)' for Shin-Kori Units 5 and 6 nuclear utilization facilities.

The construction change permit includes additions such as signal transmission lines to strengthen cybersecurity of the reactor core protection system, and revisions to the preliminary safety analysis report due to the addition of access doors for maintenance of CCTV monitoring the spent nuclear fuel storage pool.

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