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Title: Integrating quantitative defense-in-depth metrics into new reactor designs

Abstract

Risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) methods have progressed to the point where high-level guidance can be used to augment traditional, deterministic, nuclear safety design practices in areas important to nuclear reactor safety. This paper describes an approach for augmenting the traditional defense-in-depth (DID) qualitative approach with quantitative risk information from a plant-specific probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) in a way that is structured, can be applied on a consistent basis, and allows for clear acceptance criteria. Adding performance-based targets that should be achieved is expected to result in safer and more economical plant designs. Evaluations of DID can be conducted throughout the design process as well as in support of design certification and operating license applications to identify where defense protections could be enhanced or relaxed. Consistent with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's policy statement encouraging greater use of PRA to improve safety decision making and regulatory efficiency, this scenario-based DID method can be used to evaluate changes and overall plant design as part of the normal design control process. Although the RIPB method presented in this paper was developed for application to advanced passive light water reactor designs, the metrics could be tailored to other reactor designs. This risk-informed approach tomore » DID helps to ensure that public and worker risk insights are integrated into the design process holistically.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. NuScale Power, LLC, Corvallis, OR (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
NuScale Power, LLC, Portland, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
OSTI Identifier:
1501537
Grant/Contract Number:  
NE0000633
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Engineering and Design
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 330; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5493
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; Defense-in-depth; Risk-informed; Performance-based; PRA; Reactor; Design

Citation Formats

Williams, Cindy, Galyean, William J., and Welter, Kent B. Integrating quantitative defense-in-depth metrics into new reactor designs. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.008.
Williams, Cindy, Galyean, William J., & Welter, Kent B. Integrating quantitative defense-in-depth metrics into new reactor designs. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.008
Williams, Cindy, Galyean, William J., and Welter, Kent B. Tue . "Integrating quantitative defense-in-depth metrics into new reactor designs". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.008. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1501537.
@article{osti_1501537,
title = {Integrating quantitative defense-in-depth metrics into new reactor designs},
author = {Williams, Cindy and Galyean, William J. and Welter, Kent B.},
abstractNote = {Risk-informed, performance-based (RIPB) methods have progressed to the point where high-level guidance can be used to augment traditional, deterministic, nuclear safety design practices in areas important to nuclear reactor safety. This paper describes an approach for augmenting the traditional defense-in-depth (DID) qualitative approach with quantitative risk information from a plant-specific probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) in a way that is structured, can be applied on a consistent basis, and allows for clear acceptance criteria. Adding performance-based targets that should be achieved is expected to result in safer and more economical plant designs. Evaluations of DID can be conducted throughout the design process as well as in support of design certification and operating license applications to identify where defense protections could be enhanced or relaxed. Consistent with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's policy statement encouraging greater use of PRA to improve safety decision making and regulatory efficiency, this scenario-based DID method can be used to evaluate changes and overall plant design as part of the normal design control process. Although the RIPB method presented in this paper was developed for application to advanced passive light water reactor designs, the metrics could be tailored to other reactor designs. This risk-informed approach to DID helps to ensure that public and worker risk insights are integrated into the design process holistically.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.008},
journal = {Nuclear Engineering and Design},
number = C,
volume = 330,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Tue Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}

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Figures / Tables:

Table 1 Table 1: Summary Defense-in-Depth Matrix (evaluated on an accident sequence/scenario basis).

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Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.