Cerenkov Viewing Device Training for IAEA Inspectors: A Joint Effort Among Three Safeguards Support Programmes in Cooperation with the IAEA

The Cerenkov Viewing Device (CVD) is a relatively nonintrusive instrument used to verify storage-pool inventories of spent fuel from light-water reactors. Although the instrument is simple to use, inspectors need some explanation and practice in its proper handling and in the interpretation of its results. It became apparent in 1988 that users of this optical instrument required a training program. Planning for the first course at the TVO nuclear power plant in Finland began in the middle of 1989, and involved the Canadian, Finnish and Swedish safeguards support programmes and the IAEA. This effort was formalized in the spring of 1990 as a joint task among the three support programs, and was chaired by the Swedish support program. Sixty-three IAEA inspectors were trained up to the end of April, 1992, to examine fuel from pressurized-water reactors (PWRs), boilingwater reactors (BWRs), and water-water-energy reactors (WWERs). The training program consisted of theoretical lectures given at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, followed immediately by field exercises at nuclear power plants, either TVO and Loviisa in Finland (BWR, WWER), or Ringhals in Sweden (BWR, PWR). The effectiveness of this unique cooperative organization, the evolution of and improvements to the course, and documentation of the administration and course material are discussed.