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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Methodology for determining accident sequences that dominate risk in LWR power plants

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5157231
The Reactor Safety Study (RSS) developed a methodology for evaluating nuclear reactor safety as part of determining the public risk due to light water reactors. The methodology was applied to two specific reactors. For those two reactors the combinations of system failures, known as accident sequences, which dominate public risk were identified. Insights into reactor safety in general would be significantly enhanced if the accident sequences which dominate risk were identified for a broader spectrum of modern reactors. Therefore, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sponsored a two-year study to determine the accident sequences which dominate risk for a spectrum of LWR power plant designs representative of the current nuclear power industry. The study, entitled ''Reactor Safety Study Methodology Applications Program,'' is divided into two principal tasks: systems analysis of the engineered systems and analysis of the accident processes. The paper describes the techniques being used in the systems analysis task.
Research Organization:
Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, N.Mex. (USA); Evaluation Associates, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-04-0789
OSTI ID:
5157231
Report Number(s):
SAND-77-1280C; CONF-780507-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English