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MI KSC, Mining Institute

Laboratory of problems of development and efficient use of underground space

Head: V.P. Konukhin, Prof., Dr. Sci. (Eng.)

Research areas: Research areas: Studies of radioecology aspects, including interactions of underground facilities with rock masse and the development of scientific grounds of emplacement of underground nuclear power plants (NPP), and radioactive material and industrial wastes storage facilities.

Based on vast theoretical and experimental investigations:
- The concept for improvement of radiation safety of nuclear power by underground emplacement of NPP has been developed. Specific features of a heavy accident occurrence in underground NPP (UNPP) with reactors VVER-440 and "RUTA" have been studied with the grounds being given for guaranteed level of UNPP radiation safety in case of internal and external catastrophic impacts due to the properties of rock mass and mining-engineering methods for localization of accidents.
- A concept has been developed and grounded for making the emergency power unit of the Chernobyl NPP an ecologically safe system - ("Ukrytiye-2" facility). Research grounds have been developed for thermal, nuclear and radiation safety of a facility within the framework of a joint VNIPIET - Mining Institute project "Monolit" (the prize-winner of the International tender for projects).
- A databank has been created on the structure and properties of primary conditioned radioactive waste (RW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF), from the Kola NPP and atomic fleets.
- Criteria of assessment have been set and methods developed for selection of sites for underground emplacement of radiation-hazardous facilities. Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions have been assessed for possibility of placing underground storage facilities of non-processable SNFand a RW repository. There has been performed ranking of sites and some specific sites have been recommended for emplacement of underground radiation-hazardous facilities.

- Original technologies for RW and SNF sealing in the near-surface and deep geological rock formations have been grounded and developed.
Over sixty technological solutions of the laboratory within this field, have been patented in the USSR and Russian Federation. Based on results of studies over seventy papers have been published, including 14 monographs.
R&D in the field of enhancement of radiation safety in the northwestern region of Russia have been carried out together with the largest companies of Germany, France, Belgium (DBE, SGN, ANDRA, ANTEA, BRGM, BELGATOM, TRACTEBEL, SCK*CEN, ONDRAF).