Since the beginning of the present century (or even before), evidence from nuclear fuel material technology caused a mismatch (as clarified in Introduction) between Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS) acceptance criteria and Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) radiological impact. Two main ways have been pursued to cope with the mismatch: a) reducing the focus towards LBLOCA by considering probability of the event also supported by construction and maintenance quality, b) developing the Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF). Lower attention was devoted by the scientific community to changes in regulations and even less to the pillar for those regulations. This constitutes the focus for the present paper. The interconnection among ECCS design rule, probability of LBLOCA, containment role and allowed radiation release to the environment is considered. As a main outcome, it is proposed that the LBLOCA shall remain at the center of the attention for safety evaluations and licensing of Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors.
The Large Break Loss Of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) issue in Pressurized Water Reactors
D'Auria F.
Primo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
2020-01-01
Abstract
Since the beginning of the present century (or even before), evidence from nuclear fuel material technology caused a mismatch (as clarified in Introduction) between Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS) acceptance criteria and Large Break Loss of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) radiological impact. Two main ways have been pursued to cope with the mismatch: a) reducing the focus towards LBLOCA by considering probability of the event also supported by construction and maintenance quality, b) developing the Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF). Lower attention was devoted by the scientific community to changes in regulations and even less to the pillar for those regulations. This constitutes the focus for the present paper. The interconnection among ECCS design rule, probability of LBLOCA, containment role and allowed radiation release to the environment is considered. As a main outcome, it is proposed that the LBLOCA shall remain at the center of the attention for safety evaluations and licensing of Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
