Reaktor-Sicherheit und menschliche Unzulänglichkeit

Reactor safety is given by the reliable solution of 3 tasks: on-time shutdown, continuous decay-heat removal, safe containment. After describing the general strategy of their solution even under upset conditions the most important engineered safeguards of pressurized water reactors are summarized. The important problem of human failure is discussed in some more detail. For the example Harrisburg some difficulties, but also some technical countermeasures are illustrated.     

Investigations of biological processes in Austrian MBT plants

Mechanical biological treatment (MBT) of municipal solid waste (MSW) has become an important technology in waste management during the last decade. The paper compiles investigations of mechanical biological processes in Austrian MBT plants. Samples from all plants representing different stages of degradation were included in this study. The range of the relevant parameters characterizing the materials and their behavior, e.g. total organic carbon, total nitrogen, respiration activity and gas generation sum, was determined. The evolution of total carbon and nitrogen containing compounds was compared and related to process operation. The respiration activity decreases in most of the plants by about 90% of the initial values whereas the ammonium release is still ongoing at the end of the biological treatment. If the biogenic waste fraction is not separated, it favors humification in MBT materials that is not observed to such extent in MSW. The amount of organic carbon is about 15% dry matter at the end of the biological treatment.     

Preface

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

Nitrogen fluxes on an intensive investigation plot in the North Tyrolean limestone Alps

In the framework of this study, nitrogen fluxes on a limestone site are investigated. The major goals are the assessment of the nitrogen status, the estimation of the nitrogen budget and the evaluation of the nitrogen saturation. The investigation area, the intensive investigation plot and the research equipment are described.     

Monitoring the impact of sulphur with the Austrian Bioindicator Grid

In Austria, the impact of sulphur has been assessed since 1985 with the help of the Austrian Bioindicator Grid on 760 sample plots with Picea abies as the main tree species (90%). The annual sampling allows a precise evaluation of the temporal and regional development of the impact of sulphur on the basis of legal standards. Despite the reduction of SO2 emissions in Austria, the legal standard is still exceeded on 8% of the plots. These plots are mainly located near large Austrian emittors, but also in areas affected by transboundary sulphur emissions from neighbouring countries. The present paper describes how the Bioindicator Grid can be applied for the control of legal requirements to enact effective clean air measures in Austria and take supportive measures that reduce the impact of sulphur from emittors in neighbouring countries.     

Analyses of NOx and wet depositions at Mühleggerköpfl,North Tyrolean Limestone Alps

The intensive investigation site ‘Mühleggerköpfl’ in the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps can be classified as a clean-air area site. The mean concentrations of NO_x are far below the effect-related limit value of the WHO (30 μg NO_x m⁻³). The gravitational depositions in the open field (bulk deposition) ranged from 10.8 to 14.7 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ (throughfall: 11.3 to 12.3 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) in the measuring years 1998 to 2000. Compared to these data, depositions in other forested areas of the Austrian Alps amounted to up to 30 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. The gravitational depositions (bulk deposition) alone - without considering dry and occult deposition - slightly exceeded the lower limit of Critical Loads for coniferous and deciduous forests (> 10 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹), but were below the Critical Loads for calcareous forests (15–20 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹).

     

Investigations of nitrogen fluxes and pools on a limestone site in the Alps

In the North Tyrolean Limestone Alps a site was investigated over a four-year period (1998–2001) in order to assess the nitrogen saturation status, the nitrogen budget (quantification of the net uptake of nitrogen by the canopy and of the nitrogen mineralization, nitrogen uptake from roots and N₂O emission rates, proof of the origin of nitrate in the soil water with stable isotope analyses), and the effects of the actual nitrogen input on ground water quality. The main goals were to quantify the nitrogen input rate, the nitrogen pools in above-ground and below-ground compartments, nitrogen turnover processes in the soil as well as the output into the groundwater and into the atmosphere. The findings are based on continuous and discontinuous field measurements as well as on model results.While nitrogen input exceeded the Critical Loads of the WHO (1995), nitrogen deficiency and nutrient imbalances were verified by needle analyses. The atmospheric input of inorganic nitrogen was higher than the nitrogen output in 50 cm soil depth. A tracer experiment with¹⁵N helped to prove that not more than half of the applied nitrate could be discharged. This allows the conclusion that nitrogen is stored in the system and that the site cannot yet be said to be saturated with nitrogen. The same result was also obtained by modelling. In addition, it was proved that the nitrogen discharge did not stem from deposition but from processes within the system.