Problems relating to provision of safety and security of operating RTGs and RTGs intended for recovery as well as their replacement with alternative power sources

摘要

Russia has up to one thousand radionuclide thermoelectric generators (RTGs) located on its territory. Over 80% of the RTGs belong to Hydrographic Services of the RF Navy and Ministry of Transportation. Due to a sharply increased recognition of the threat of terrorist attacks with radionuclide materials, both of the main owners of the RTGs are concerned about their being forced to continue using their RTGs under tightened security requirements and strive for their complete elimination. Russian Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” (RRC KI) has set a goal to organize monitoring of the RTGs by means of installation of special alarm systems at the beacons. These alarm systems will be sending information on the RTGs’ status to Remote Monitoring System Control Centers for its subsequent analyses and response. – The RTGs will be decommissioned and replaced. Reliable and effective alternative power sources robust enough to operate in remote locations under severe weather conditions, especially in the Arctic region, are required to replace the RTGs. RRC KI, in cooperation with the RF Navy Hydrographic Services and under support of the USA DOE, is working on pilot replacements using photovoltaic systems and wind power generators. Connecting beacons to commercial power systems provides another optimistic alternative.