Nuclear Technology
Aim
The Academy of Finland’s Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering has decided to target funding at research in nuclear technology. The Research Council has earmarked EUR 2 million for research that will develop new types of nuclear reactors and promote the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants.
Next-generation nuclear technology
Nuclear power based on fission is one of the most realistic energy solutions of mankind. Based on its present decisions, Finland will be using nuclear power for several decades to come. If we want to maintain the position of nuclear power as a competitive energy source even in the future, we must gradually start to use advanced nuclear fuel cycles, as the availability of natural uranium is limited. This requires groundbreaking new approaches and ideas as well as extensive scientific investments. It is important to acquire in-depth knowledge of the potential and limitations of nuclear power technologies.
To be able to build next-generation reactors, both advanced computational and experimental research is needed. Traditional computational methods in reactor physics and thermal hydraulics must be revised and validated so that they can be used for reliable modelling and planning of totally new types of reactors. Key areas of experimental research also include radiochemical separation of isotopes or material research under difficult and challenging circumstances.
Improved nuclear reactor reliability and security
The nuclear power plants that operate and are currently being built in Finland and its neighbouring regions have two types of reactors, i.e. pressurised water (PWR) and boiling water (BWR) reactors. The plants involve complex systems that are based on various physical phenomena and advanced control circuits. Even though the reactors have primarily been built with technologies that have been purchased from outside and developed internationally, their safe use and development, and the revision of the security policies (when needed), requires in-depth understanding and management of these technologies at the local level.
Finland has a wealth of knowledge of and expertise in this research field and in its neighbouring areas. The Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering aims through this targeted funding to further improve and strengthen this knowledge base. The research themes of this call include the following phenomena and sub-systems: development, dynamics and regulation of the nuclear process, storage of nuclear waste, management of radiation in a medium in emergency situations, the ability of the reactor containment building to resist natural phenomena or accidents, coupled multiphysical problems, ageing materials and structures and damage mechanisms, and statistical functional safety assessments at the system and component level.
It is important that the projects to be funded make good use of Finland’s participation in international joint projects, such as the Jules Horowitz reactor. Besides cooperation within the EU, it is also important to collaborate with other countries with strong expertise in nuclear technology, such as the US, Russia, China, Japan, India or the Republic of Korea.
Funding
The funding period starts 1 September 2012. As a rule, the funding is granted for four years.
Appendices
See Appendix 1 A, Application appendices.
How to apply
In this call, the costs of a research project are calculated according to the full cost model. Applications shall be written so as to ensure that the Academy’s contribution to funding comes to no more than 80% of the estimated total costs of the project. See guidelines on how to enter the costs in the application on the Academy’s website under Full cost model.
The deadline is 30 September 2011 at 16.15. The deadline is non-negotiable. Applications are drafted in the Academy’s online services, select Open calls > Nuclear technology.
More information
- Senior Science Adviser Pentti Pulkkinen, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Unit, tel. +358 9 7748 8342
- Science Adviser Samuli Hemming, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Unit, tel. +358 9 7748 8485
Updated according to September call 2011