Safety and licensing for small and medium power reactors

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6175288

Trauger, D B

Proposed new concepts for small and medium power reactors differ substantially from traditional Light Water Reactors (LWRs). Although designers have a large base of experience in safety and licensing, much of it is not relevant to new concepts. It can be a disadvantage if regulators apply LWR rules directly. A fresh start is appropriate. The extensive interactions between industry, regulators, and the public complicates but may enhance safety. It is basic to recognize the features that distinguish nuclear energy safety from that for other industries. These features include: nuclear reactivity, fission product radiation, and radioactive decay heat. Small and medium power reactors offer potential advantages over LWRs, particularly for reactivity and decay heat.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6175288
• Report Number(s): CONF-870863-1; ON: DE87008597; TRN: 87-028111
• Resource Relation: Conference: Seminar on small and medium-sized nuclear reactors: safety and licensing issues, Lausanne, Switzerland, 24 Aug 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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