Scientific news - 2nd semester 2007

Last July the IRSN obtained ISO 9001 certification for its management system through the quality of all its activities.
For research, as for the other missions of the Institute, this certification is recognition of the credibility of the IRSN, its professionalism, the rigor of its work and its organization. It is therefore a very important element in the confidence of the Institute's partners, which positions it as a reference Institute. Quality certification completed the Peers’ evaluation, which guarantees the appropriateness of the directions and scope of research.

 more about certification and research

Radioecology

ECCOREV Research Federation project launch
04/10/2007

 The ECCOREV Research Federation project, based on the "Continental ecosystems and environmental risks" theme was launched on 25 September 2007 at the close of the closing seminar organised by the IFR112 Federal Research Institute - Mediterranean Environmental Science Centre.

In the process of receiving CNRS quality certification, ECCOREV federates 35 research laboratories in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA) region from its universities and research institutes, including IRSN. The aim of this new structure is to conduct interdisciplinary programmes on the environment involving human and social sciences as well as the so-called "hard" sciences and natural sciences. It will encourage innovative projects focusing primarily on resolving risk-related problems by considering all their aspects - scientific, technological, legal, economic and social.
 

Software

MELODIE: radioactive solute transport in a repository
23/07/2007

The MELODIE code, which provides 3D simulations of radionuclide plume evolution in a geological environment, is being used for the first time by an IRSN partner as part of a European project. The AVN (Association Viçotte Nucléaire), IRSN’s counterpart institute in Belgium, has selected the tool - developed by IRSN – to participate in coordinated action MICADO as part of FP6. MICADO kicked off in October 2006 and aims to produce a review of the uncertainties (linked to lack of knowledge, model simplification, etc.) associated with the decay of spent fuel. Furthermore, IRSN is managing one of the MICADO tasks, assessing the influence of these uncertainties on the migration of radionuclides in terms of repository components.

MELODIE’s originality lies, above all, in the schemes chosen to solve equations representing water flow and solute transport. Indeed, they are adapted to the strong contrasts found in the properties of the diverse materials making up the structured or natural components in a repository. Moreover, MELODIE offers a means of meshing the space that takes account of the diverse heterogeneities of these components, whilst respecting certain geometric constraints imposed by its high-performance digital schemes.

The MELODIE code was one of the elements used by IRSN to prepare the assessment documentations on the feasibility of a geological repository in a clay formation, presented by ANDRA. Moreover, the IRSN Scientific Committee assessed the code in 2006 and supported its development. MELODIE will be enhanced by use at different scientific bodies, thanks to their feedback and participation in open dialogue with the Institute's partners.