Insights Into Developing a Systematic Approach to Safety Analysis for Advanced (Non Water-Cooled) Reactors and SMRs

Abstract

To meet the regulatory expectations in REGDOC-2.4.1 for deterministic safety analysis, a limit-of-operating envelope (LOE) approach has been implemented by the Canadian CANDU industry. This LOE approach is consistent with international practice. In the LOE approach, key parameters that characterize the plant operating condition at the time of the accident, as well as equipment response to the accident, are assumed to be at their operating limits, so as to maximize the consequences of the accident. The objective of the LOE approach is to calculate safety margins to the established acceptance criteria and safety limits during postulated reactor accidents in a conservative way. This paper presents some lessons learned from performing deterministic safety analyses for the Canadian CANDU industry for consideration in developing safety analysis methods for advanced (non water-cooled) reactors and small modular reactors.