From May 17 to 21, 2015, the annual ICONE23 (23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering) was held in Chiba, Japan, where numerous technical presentations on current topics in research, development, and applications in nuclear energy were given. In addition, representatives from industry and politics discussed and debated the significant role of nuclear energy in addressing global energy challenges and reducing CO₂ emissions during several plenary sessions.

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s Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation, and Measurement Technology (IPM) at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences was represented by two presentations given by Mr. Daniel Fiß and Mr. Sebastian Schmidt, both staff members and doctoral candidates in Prof. Kratzsch’s research group. In his presentation titled “Advanced Analysis of the Structure of a Reactor Protection System,” Daniel Fiß presented the results of a research project conducted in cooperation with E.ON Kernkraft GmbH. The work falls within the field of

“: Software-Based Safety Control Systems.”

Sebastian Schmidt presented the latest research findings on the topic “Validation of an Innovative Core State Diagnosis System for Severe Accidents in PWRs Using an Experimental Rig” as part of the “Student Paper Competition” lecture series. The work is being conducted as part of a collaborative project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

in cooperation with TU Dresden

. Both presentations generated considerable interest in the lecture halls and during subsequent discussions with other participants at the conference, as the content of the presentations makes a significant contribution to the safer operation of nuclear power plants. Mr. Sebastian Schmidt was also honored

with the “Student Best Paper Award” at the “” for the second year in a row for his contribution

, which confirms the good quality of IPM’s research activities in the field of nuclear safety research.

 

Photo: “Student Best Paper Award” ceremony; from left: Prof. Dr. Suyuan Yu, Prof. Dr. Shripad Revankar, Dr. Asif Arastu (Conference Chair), M.Eng. Sebastian Schmidt, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Wolfgang Hansen, Prof. Dr. Tomio Okawa

For some conference participants, the final day of the conference consisted of a full-day “Technical Tour” to visit the “Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry” and the “Japan Atomic Energy Agency.” At the “Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry,” participants toured various large-scale test facilities, including those used to study the effects of tsunamis on nuclear facilities and to design earthquake-resistant nuclear power plants. At the “Japan Atomic Energy Agency,” participants had the exceptional and unique opportunity to tour one of the world’s only Generation IV nuclear reactors currently in operation for research purposes. This newest type of nuclear reactor, known as a high-temperature reactor (HTR), is used not only for electricity generation but also for providing process heat (approx. 1,000 °C), which significantly improves efficiency compared to existing nuclear power plants. Another important aspect is that the physical operating principle of HTRs makes a nuclear meltdown impossible.

Participation in the 23rd International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE) was extremely informative and successful for professional development as well as for the projects being worked on by the participating staff members. Furthermore, through the presentations and numerous discussions with other international participants during the conference, the Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation, and Measurement Technology, as well as Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, were brought further into the spotlight of internationally renowned companies and universities, thereby promoting future projects and collaborations.

 

Photo: International participants in the “Technical Tour”

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Contact:

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Kratzsch

Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation, and Measurement Technology (IPM)

 

Email:

a.kratzsch@hszg.de

Phone: 03583 61-1383