Ensuring safety of new, advanced small modular reactors for fundamental safety and with an optimal main heat transport systems configuration

Abstract

Abstract Many countries are considering Small and Modular Reactors as a viable alternative to counter the climate-change/global-warming with a quick deployment of green, carbon free nuclear energy option in the energy mix. Proponents of SMRs claim that these designs rely more on enhanced inherent/engineered safety and passive features with novel concepts. SMRs are being designed to be fabricated at a factory and then transported as ‘modules’ to the sites for installation either as a single module or multiple module plant. There are many variant of SMRs under considerations/design/construction/commissioning/operation states and majority of the, more than 70 odd SMRs are in the design stage. The paper focuses on safety aspects while addressing the fundamental safety requirement that are derived from fundamental safety principles, the acceptance criteria, the expected/envisaged safety targets and not only the economic impact/considerations. The assessment basis for requirements towards safety enhancements and their extent of assurance in the design are highlighted against the claims made. Ensuring SMR safety with respect to the fundamental safety functions will depend on the foreseen/predicted fission product releases, following overheating of the fuel, during the worst/credible accident conditions and likelihood of occurrence of these accidents. Innovations in the development of advanced fuel, deploying passive safety systems, novel concepts in main heat transport system configuration and advanced features in instrumentation can help in realising the goal of ensured enhanced safety in the SMRs, both in preventive and mitigation domains during severe accidents. Enhancements in the acceptance criteria and deterministic and probabilistic safety targets is also expected and may be envisaged. The paper brings out the challenges faced in the design and regulation of the new NPPs, while addressing fundamental safety principles implementation, generic, specific safety issues, and only genuine innovations can ensure and improve the safety. Aspects related to passive systems and the optimal main heat removal system configuration of the NPPs are also discussed. The aspects related to concurrent design and regulation of new NPPs including SMRs also has been brought out in the paper.