The AGE60+ project aimed towards the application of ageing related data bases and methodologies to ensuring the safe operation of Light Water Reactors beyond 60 years, and the longer-term safe storage of waste. It acted by encouraging European researchers to share data in order to maximize its utility.
As an initial step, the AGE60+ consortium considered the development and utilization of a number of databases set up to collate data and derive information relevant to the management of nuclear power plant. This review was used to identify the factors which lead to a database successfully making a useful contribution.
The AGE60+ project has been a very fruitful collaboration. It has:
• Raised the concept of sharing data and setting up databases related to the ageing of concrete in waste disposal, and received a generally positive response to this first step.
• Identified an area in which a new database would provide the opportunity to advance predictive modeling of the degradation of internals.
• Collated and reviewed data on the thermal ageing of low alloy steels.
• Identified information gaps in the area of internals degradation and the thermal ageing of low alloy steel components.
• Produced an up-to-date database on WWER-440 RPV steel embrittlement.
• Produced a new embrittlement trend curve (ETC), relating the fracture toughness transition temperature to fluence and composition for WWER-440 weld and base metal.
• Expanded and utilized a database on MnMoNi steel embrittlement.
This AGE 60+ project was realized as a part of the NUGENIA+ Call and lasted 18 months with participating organizations: UJV Rez a.s., Czech Republic, AREVA GmbH, Germany, CIEMAT, Spain, MTA EK, Hungary and NNL, UK as a leading organization.
