Consideration of rare seismic events in substantiation of safe placement of nuclear power plants

Abstract

The criteria and requirements for consideration of rare tectonic and seismic events at the locations of nuclear power plants (NPP) were subject to comparative analysis in the context of the aftermath of the earthquake with M w = 8.9 that happened on March 11, 2011 in the southeast of Honshu Island. The main problems of regional and detailed methods for seismic hazard assessment under selection of safe placement of nuclear plants are discussed. Deterministic and probabilistic estimates of the parameters of seismic impacts on the Fukushima-1 NPP were considered taking into account the consequences of the March 11, 2011 earthquake. The development of the uniform requirements to safe placement of nuclear power stations and unified methods for seismic hazard assessment is proven to be urgent. It is necessary to take into account the possible causes of extreme seismic events able to result in the beyond design-basis accidents not considered in the project and also organizational and technical measures to reduce the radiological consequences of the beyond design-basis accidents caused by the impact of rare but severe natural and anthropogenic factors.