Regulations and ORM

The operating margin of reactivity (ORM) is not measured by directly any sensors and not registered by any showing or recording devices. ORM value is calculated by the routine for physics calculation "[PRIZMA]" on the computer of Centralized Monitoring System (SCM) "[SKALA]". This calculation takes certain time and its result it is possible to see on listing which the shift engineer on computer facilities should make and bring specially on CRU. Well, in regulations there are restrictions on ОRM value, but let's look how it is written down there. In all the regulations there are only three records, concern this restriction, and one of them is in chapter "9. Normal parameters of operation of the power unit and a permissible deviations.". For this chapter in 33 its paragraphs for all more or less significant parameters of the power unit (to each parameter the separate paragraph is dedicated) described in detail the limits in what the parameters should be. Where it is necessary is described how to define their conformity to regulations. For some (complex) parameters are explained in addition the allowed situations. In the following chapter 10 The actions of personnel at deviations of parameters from normal in 27 paragraphs (each with a considerable number of subparagraphs) are in detail described all necessary actions on each of parameters. And so it is, in this text there is not a word about an operation margin of reactivity. How to define, whether is it is under admissible limits and what to do, if it has exceeded these limits. No anything at all. There is no such supervising parameter! ORM it is mentioned only in chapter 9 preamble. That is a very short preamble, so we give it here entirely. (*1)

What we see here?

1) ORM it is not any operational parameter, operatively supervising, but a certain quantitative characteristic of condition of the reactor which did not leave yet from under science guardianship.
2) This characteristic is connected with stability of fields of power allocation in the reactor and possibility them to operate. Here there is no speech about any weakening of emergency protection system, and furthermore about possibility of an explosive situation.
3) Restrictions on ORM size concern a steady state mode, when this parameters varies very slowly and there is time for its definition and comprehension.
4) Restriction of ORM in 15 rods presented extremely lightly. It is not described, what exactly means the term immediate shutdown (if it is SCRAM then so should be written), and does not explained why such requirement caused. The term "immediate shutdown" does appear in no one point of this chapter of regulations any more.

Very strange looks either tough reaction to a malfunction of such harmless by sight parameter, and a context in which it is written down.
If, ORM is not operative parameter, but only certain characteristic of physics which is not impact the reactor nuclear safety, and the chief designer knew nothing about danger of small ORM then the context is explainable, but such tough reaction is not clear.
If ORM is really a safety-significant parameter, and the chief designer knew about it (though has told anything to no one) then the tough reaction is clear. But then such record of this restriction in regulations smells slightly already of a criminal act.

Other record of ORM restriction in size 15 rods is in chapter 6 Lifting of the reactor power and start-up of the unit after a short-term stop and partial unloading, in paragraph 6.6 Order of power lifting . Here this record. (*2)

As we see, any promptness and haste in the reactor shutdown is not present here.
First, to see that the reactivity margin has reached limiting value and continues to fall it is necessary some time (some minutes). All this time ORM will be less than 15 rods and will be becomes ever less.
Secondly, the anxiety in this point as it will be visible from further, goes about an idle time as a result of getting into "poison out" time (characteristic time – hours) that does not make fill harry too. There is no a word about any disaster from small ОRM.
Thirdly, the same remark as to chapter 9 – an illegibility of formulations. For example, what does it mean – reactivity margin in the course of power lifting, how it to define in this fast enough transient? To its beginning – it is clear, after its finish too, but in the process how to determine it?
And main thing is, what for such point exist in regulations in general if in it there is point 6.2 (see below) which accurately orders at what ORM it is possible to put the reactor to power state after a short-term stop (and how this reactivity margin to determine). How safety is secured on putting the reactor to a critical condition and the further lifting of power, is described in detail in many paragraphs of regulations without any refer to ORM. Point 6.6.4 in essence does not add anything to it.

The third mention of ORM contains the point 6.2.(*3)

Even in this accurately enough formulated point there is not done without incomprehension. What in your opinion according to this point should be minimum of initial ORM if the reactor before shutdown worked on power of less than 50 % – 30, 26 or 15 rods? Or may be it is need to understand so, that if the reactor before stopping worked on power of less than 50 %, then it is forbidden in general to raise the reactor power again without passage the ‘poison out’ time? Then why it so directly is not written?

There is a question.
How it is possible to explain so indistinct representation in technical regulations (TR) of such important parameter for the reactor safety, as an operative reactivity margin (ОRM)?
If not to suspect authors of regulations in something bad the explanation can be only one, they did not consider ОRM as safety-significant parameter. And restrictions on its size, written down in regulations, are connected not with nuclear safety at all, but with something another. What with?

Let's look what the chief designer of the reactor wrote about ОRM before Chernobyl accident. In his book [E1] is written about ORM the following (on p. 34-35) (*4)

And that is all, nothing more presented in this book about ORM. And it is absolutely clear from this that is said in the given text, that the admissible operative reactivity margin in reactor RBMK is chosen not at all by reasons of nuclear safety, but by reasons of efficiency, good manoeuvrability when work together with electric power transmission system and efficiency of operating in transitive modes. Values ОЗР from 1 % to 2 % (it approximately also there are 15 and 30 rods, see the curve 1 on fig. 2.5) are considered as the optimum. If ОRM less than this range there will be too great idle times because of a fall into ‘poison out’ time holes and also there will be a low operational control, but if ОRM more than this range then too expensive will manage fuel, and there will be low efficiency of its use.

It is hard to read restrictions on ORM in regulations otherwise, as made by these reasons.