NSSC Approves Restart of Research Reactor 'Hanaro'

Hanaro Automatically Shut Down on the 1st of Last Month Due to Hydrogen Control System Anomaly

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission completed the investigation and safety verification of the Hanaro research reactor at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, which was automatically shut down on the 1st of last month, and approved its restart on the 23rd.

Previously, Hanaro was automatically shut down to protect the cold neutron source experimental facility due to an anomaly in the hydrogen control system of the experimental facility.

The cause of the hydrogen control system anomaly was a broken fuse in the pressure gauge circuit of the hydrogen control system that cools neutrons, which caused an error in hydrogen pressure measurement (a hydrogen pressure '0' signal was generated). As a result, the control valve for hydrogen supply opened, causing high hydrogen pressure, which triggered the Hanaro shutdown signal to protect the cold neutron source experimental facility, according to the investigation. The fuse breakage was confirmed to be due to aging, as the welding part separated after being used for a long period (13 years) without replacement.

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, taking this incident as an opportunity, replaced all fuses (112 units) in the control computer of the cold neutron source experimental facility and the reactor control and protection system, and established a management procedure to mandatorily replace fuses every three years. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission plans to continuously monitor the implementation status of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute's recurrence prevention measures in the future.

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