Abstract
Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) is one of the technologies that is used to inform the design, licensing, operation, and maintenance activities of nuclear power plants (NPPs). A PRA can be performed by considering the single hazard (e.g., earthquake, flood, high wind, landslide) or by considering multi-hazards (e.g., earthquake and tsunami, high wind and internal fire). Single hazard PRA was thought sufficient to cover the analysis of a severe accident until the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident in 2011. Since then, efforts were made to consider multi-hazards as well; thus, multi-hazard PRAs are starting to be seen as being indispensable for NPPs. In addition to the changing frequency of global and local natural hazards, other reasons to be highlighted are that the number and diversity of NPPs will probably increase. Moreover, advanced reactors are close to becoming a reality by designing them with passive safety systems, smaller, standardized, and even transportable to make them cheaper across the design, licensing construction, and operation stages. Thus, multi-hazards should be addressed in any future full-scope PRA. Although we found a few studies discussing multi-hazards, a general framework for multi-hazard PRA is still missing. In this paper, we argue that the starting point for any multi-hazard PRA general framework should be the Advanced Non-LWR Licensing Basis Event Selection (LBE) Approach and Probabilistic Risk Assessment Standard for Non-Light Water Reactor (non-LWR) Nuclear Power Plants. For Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), history has shown us the path forward before, with Three Mile Accident being seen as one milestone to understand the necessity of PRA. The Fukushima Daiichi NPP Accident is another milestone in the development of PRA, showing the need for performing multi-hazard PRA for the current and future NPPs.
Highlights
Published: 10 October 2021Using nuclear technology has many benefits, either for energy or other applications [1]like cancer diagnostics and treatment, non-destructive material testing, thickness, gauge, or level measurements
443 NPPs are in operation, and 50 NPPs are under construction [55], meaning at least a 10% increase in nuclear power plants
Assuming that the advanced reactors will be in our daily lives in 10 years, now is the right time to develop a general framework for assessing multi-hazard risks to inform the current design activities of advanced reactors
Summary
Published: 10 October 2021Using nuclear technology has many benefits, either for energy or other applications [1]like cancer diagnostics and treatment, non-destructive material testing, thickness, gauge, or level measurements. Using nuclear technology has many benefits, either for energy or other applications [1]. Just as any other modern technology, it has some disadvantages; for example, depending on the reactor design, nuclear proliferation concerns can be raised [2]. The main requirements of commercial nuclear power are safety, security, and non-proliferation during energy production and the entire fuel cycle. Nuclear safety is necessary to ensure that there is no significant increase in societal health risk compared to other societal risks. Nuclear security ensures nuclear materials and radioactive substances are protected from theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer, or other malicious events [4]
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