Safety Goals Research Articles

Analysis of the thermal-mechanical behavior of SFR fuel pins during fast unprotected transient overpower accidents using the GERMINAL fuel performance code

In the framework of the Generation IV research and development project, in which the French Commission of Alternative and Atomic Energies (CEA) is involved, a main objective for the design of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) is to meet the safety goals for severe accidents. Among the severe ones, the Unprotected Transient OverPower (UTOP) accidents can lead very quickly to a global melting of the core. UTOP accidents can be considered either as slow during a Control Rod Withdrawal (CRW) or as fast. The paper focuses on fast UTOP accidents, which occur in a few milliseconds, and three different scenarios are considered: rupture of the core support plate, uncontrolled passage of a gas bubble inside the core and core mechanical distortion such as a core flowering/compaction during an earthquake. Several levels and rates of reactivity insertions are also considered and the thermal-mechanical behavior of an ASTRID fuel pin from the ASTRID CFV core is simulated with the GERMINAL code. Two types of fuel pins are simulated, inner and outer core pins, and three different burn-up are considered.Moreover, the feedback from the CABRI programs on these type of transients is used in order to evaluate the failure mechanism in terms of kinetics of energy injection and fuel melting. The CABRI experiments complete the analysis made with GERMINAL calculations and have shown that three dominant mechanisms can be considered as responsible for pin failure or onset of pin degradation during ULOF/UTOP accident: molten cavity pressure loading, fuel-cladding mechanical interaction (FCMI) and fuel break-up.The study is one of the first step in fast UTOP accidents modelling with GERMINAL and it has shown that the code can already succeed in modelling these type of scenarios up to the sodium boiling point. The modeling of the radial propagation of the melting front, validated by comparison with CABRI tests, is already very efficient.

Dentists' Attitudes to the Preprocedural Safety Checklist "Time-Out" in Saudi Arabia.

Before performing medical procedures, there is a patient safety initiative process (also referred to as "time-out"), part of this process is the use of a preprocedural safety checklist. This initiative was envisioned by the World Health Organization, supported by various accreditation bodies who include the process in their standards. Dentistry lags behind its medical colleagues in using it presurgical or invasive procedure. Our aim was to understand dentists' attitudes and knowledge about the process and their adherence to it. A cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed between September and December 2021 and 102 dentists responded. Seventy three of the respondents (71.5%) claimed to be familiar with the time-out process, and 87 (85.3%) felt that it was an important or somewhat important process; however, only 62 (60.7%) were always performing the process before surgical or invasive outpatient procedures. Patient safety must be given priority, as such it has been shown that preprocedural checklists help reduce medical errors. Recognizing the value of performing such a process, accreditation bodies have included the process in their standards and indeed in the Joint Commission focused patient safety goals.

The role of nurses in implementing patient safety in hospitals to achieve patient safety goals: Literature review

Patient safety is an action taken to minimize hazards during a patient's healthcare experience, particularly in hospitals. Patient safety can be described as a system in which hospitals implement improved nursing care processes. Objectives: To understand and analyze the role of nurses in implementing patient safety in hospitals to achieve the standards of patient safety goals. Methods: The article search was conducted through the PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases using the keywords "patient safety" AND "nurse's role" OR "nurse" AND "hospital" AND "patient safety goals". The search yielded a total of 119 articles, but only 10 articles met the inclusion criteria. Result: A study conducted in 7 hospitals in Indonesia and other countries revealed several roles of nurses in implementing patient safety. The most commonly found role was nurses providing nursing care using the nursing process. Nurses also delivered optimal nursing care and services while ensuring equitable distribution of care. Additionally, nurses supported and advocated for the well-being of patients. Conclusion: The roles of nurses in implementing patient safety in hospitals can be grouped into three categories: care roles, education roles, advocacy roles, and collaboration roles.

Factors influencing patient safety culture in hospitals: Literature review

Patient safety is a system that aims to enhance the safety of patient care and prevent injuries resulting from errors during the execution of action. According to the 2011 Minister of Health Regulation concerning Hospital Patient Safety, every hospital is required to undertake patient safety management because hospitals are the most likely locations for patient safety events to occur (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 2011). As a result, hospital culture and patient safety are intertwined. There are various factors that affect patient safety culture. Objectives: To determined the various factors that influence the culture of patient safety in a hospital. Methods: Article search is done through ScienceDirect database, Garuda Portal, and Google Scholar. The keywords entered use Indonesian and English, where for Indonesian keywords are "keselamatan pasien" DAN "rumah sakit", while for English are "patient safety" AND "factors" AND "hospital". From the articles found, the author took 5 articles whose articles were in accordance with inclusion criteria and considered relevant to the topic of discussion. Results: Factors that influence patient safety culture in hospitals include, 1) Economic Aspects; 2) Leadership; 3) Culture; 4) Risk Management System and Health Services; 5) Knowledge, Attitudes, and Actions; 6) Analysis of the Situation and Conditions of the Working Environment; 7) Stress Level and Workload of Nurses; 8) Mentoring Program; 9) Nursing Supervision and Evaluation of the Application of Patient Safety Goals; 10) Teamwork; and 11) Organizational Learning. Conclusions: There are various factors that influence the culture of patient safety in hospitals.

Critical review on data-driven approaches for learning from accidents: Comparative analysis and future research

Data-driven intelligent technologies are promoting a disruptive digital transformation of human society. Industrial accident prevention is also amid this change. Although many emerging technologies, such as machine learning (ML), are extensively employed in workplace safety, these approaches need to fit the intended safety purpose of accident analysis, risk assessment, adverse outcome prediction, or anomaly detection. Hence, examining the “real-world” need for accident prevention and the advantages of emerging data-driven methodologies to better integrate them is necessary. This study provides a systematic review to clarify the current research status, existing problems, and future insights into these evolving technologies in accident prevention. We present notable gaps and barriers in data-driven accident prevention by analyzing 194 published studies from four perspectives: Paradigm, Model, Data Source, and Purpose. The results demonstrate (1) lack of a systematic framework to guide the application of Big Data (BD) in the field of safety; (2) few prior studies have considered model interpretability; (3) more proactive data needs to be incorporated into accident analysis; (4) safety-related data and domain knowledge need to be further integrated; (5) some recent data-driven techniques are unexplored in safety science. Further, the future research opportunities are discussed based on these findings. Such review may help clarify the mapping of data-driven tasks to safety goals to accelerate the uptake of data-driven technologies in safety or accident analysis research.

Development of Aswaja An-Nahdliyah-based caring model to improve performance in patient safety goals

Introduction: The efforts to improve quality and safe health services for patients have been carried out, However, the adverse event is still occurring. This study aims to develop a caring model based on ASWAJA An-Nahdliyah To Improve Performance In Patient Safety Goals. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional approach to 123 nurses, taken by cluster-random sampling. The research instrument is a questionnaire. Data analysis using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on variance or component-based SEM is called partial least square (PLS). The development of the ASWAJA An-Nahdliyah-based caring model was carried out after a path analysis study and the formulation of strategic issues through focus group discussions (FGD) and expert discussions. Results: There is an effect on individual characteristics of nurses, patient characteristics, and caring ASWAJA An-Nahdliyah on performance in patient safety goals (t statistic >1.96 and p-value 0.005). The resulting coefficient is positive 0.561, meaning that the higher the caring value of ASWAJA Annahdiyah tends to improve performance. Conclusion: The ASWAJA Annahdliyah-based Caring Development Model has a major effect on performance in patient safety goals. The individual characteristics of nurses are the biggest factors that affect ASWAJA Annahdiyah-based caring so strengthening the characteristics of nurses is very much needed in order to improve performance in patient safety goals.

Electromagnetic interference and the effect of low-voltage protective measures at electric vehicle charging stations

The nominal power of electric vehicle charging stations or charging parks is constantly increasing. Most of the users are ordinary persons and handle such equipment with a rated power of several 100 kW. Until now, equipment with such power ratings was only common in electrical operating facilities such as industrial plants where the users are at least instructed and protective measures are specified. If ordinary persons handle equipment with such power ratings in the field, the question arises as to whether the conventional safety goals are met in the event of an electrical fault. The consideration is: If the power increases so much, it can be assumed that the short-circuit power and thus the fault current increase and so does the risk of a dangerous electric shock. In this contribution, calculations of line-to-earth short-circuits on the low-voltage AC side of the three-phase system and their effects in typical configurations of charging stations are carried out. Considering the electromagnetic interference, the calculations provide the fault current and its distribution to determine the electrical potentials during the fault. From this, the (partial) fault voltages and active fault voltages are calculated. Based on the active fault voltage, the expected body impedance and consequently, the body current can be determined. With the body current and the break time of the protection device the risk of electric shock using international standards as guidelines is evaluated. As a result, recommendations for the planning, installation and safe operation of charging stations are given. It turns out that considering certain aspects like the conductor cross-sections or the electromagnetic interference, the risk of electric shock can be reduced to a conventional level. Periodic testing of the electrical system is necessary for safe and reliable operation. For example, follow-on faults due to unintended, improper use by ordinary persons can be prevented. Also, regular inspection of the electrical system is necessary for safe and reliable operation to prevent hazards due to aging or wear. However, it seems challenging to define an installation guideline that applies to all configurations as the boundary conditions vary depending on the type of system, installations in the area of interference and environmental influences.

Factors influencing health worker compliance in implementing patient safety goals in Indonesia: Systematic review

The compliance rate of health workers in patient safety is not fully good at 68.7% and the implementation of patient safety in Indonesia is not optimal at 74.2% whereas in 2016 in Indonesia there were still 31 cases related to patient safety. To determine the factors that affect the compliance of health workers in the implementation of patient safety goals using a systematic review approach. This study uses a systematic review method from 9 studies using a quantitative approach commonly called a meta-analysis. The search for the source of this research data uses PRISMA flow charts from several databases such as Google Scholar, garuda portal, ProQuest, and Elsevier. Where published in the last 10 years (2013-2023). 25 variables were the same in the study between one researcher and another, namely age, gender, marital status, number of dependents, length of work, nurse knowledge, nurse motivation, supervision, nursing, organizational influence, educational status, compliance behavior, ability, supervisor support, fellow nurse support, workplace comfort, employment status, motivation, perception, nurse compliance, 6 patient safety goals, patient safety culture, patient identification, patient safety events, and patient fall prevention. The average P-Value value is 0.180, the minimum value of P-Value = 0.000, and the maximum value of P-Value = 0.995. 8 dominant factors influence health workers in implementing patient safety goals. 8 dominant factors influence health workers in implementing patient safety goals, namely knowledge, length of work, nurse work motivation, nurse perception, stress level and workload, nurse compliance, organizational influence, and supervisor support.

Forecasting emergent risks in advanced AI systems: an analysis of a future road transport management system

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being increasingly implemented within road transport systems worldwide. Next generation of AI, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is imminent, and is anticipated to be more powerful than current AI. AGI systems will have a broad range of abilities and be able to perform multiple cognitive tasks akin to humans that will likely produce many expected benefits, but also potential risks. This study applied the EAST Broken Links approach to forecast the functioning of an AGI system tasked with managing a road transport system and identify potential risks. In total, 363 risks were identified that could have adverse impacts on the stated goals of safety, efficiency, environmental sustainability, and economic performance of the road system. Further, risks beyond the stated goals were identified; removal from human control, mismanaging public relations, and self-preservation. A diverse set of systemic controls will be required when designing, implementing, and operating future advanced technologies. Practitioner summary: This study demonstrated the utility of HFE methods for formally considering risks associated with the design, implementation, and operation of future technologies. This study has implications for AGI research, design, and development to ensure safe and ethical AGI implementation.

Understanding risky driving among motorized two-wheeler drivers: The role of time-related anxiety and impunctuality

Motorized Two-Wheeler (MTW) drivers significantly contribute to road fatalities due to their vulnerability and the higher severity of crashes. Risky driving behavior, such as violations and errors, is a key precursor to road crashes. Understanding the factors that influence such risky behavior can shed light on opportunities for risk management. In this investigation, data from 460 motorized two-wheeler drivers were collected through an online questionnaire, exploring Red Light Running (RLR), lane sharing, and turning without indicating driving tendencies, latent psychological factors, and demographic attributes of the participants. The analysis was conducted in two steps: (a) decision trees were developed to classify risky driving behavior, and (b) binary logistic regression models were developed to quantify risky driving choices based on demographic and latent psychological variables, as well as interaction variables. The results showed that as driver anxiety increased, the probability of lane sharing rose from 76.3% to 87.9% in normal driving situations and from 80.3% to 96.6% in time-pressure driving situations, respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that the odds of running red lights and lane sharing decreased to 0.57 and 0.68, respectively, for older drivers compared to young drivers. Overall, this study quantified the impact of underlying psychological factors and demographic parameters, as well as their combined effects, on assessing traffic violations, traffic errors, and non-illegal dangerous driving behaviors among motorized two-wheeler drivers. Additionally, the study discusses the implications and policy interventions related to the legalization of lane sharing and the risks associated with time-pressure driving in online food delivery systems. These findings can inform evidence-based policymaking to achieve road safety goals.

Research on Strength Model of Cemented Tailings Deposit Body in Underground Tailings Reservoir

Due to the lack of clarity in the strength design of underground tailings reservoirs, it is imperative to investigate the interaction between the tailings deposit body (TDB) and surrounding rock. Taking the TDB as the subject of analysis, a differential equation for vertical stress on the TDB is proposed, considering the stresses from the hanging wall of the surrounding rock and physical and structural parameters of the TDB. Considering the similarity between the underground tailings reservoir and one-step subsequent filling, in situ data of the one-step subsequent filling body from a mine was utilized to compare calculated values of the theoretical model. The resulting theoretical prediction error was less than 10%, thus verifying the reliability of the proposed model. According to the theoretical model analysis, the height of the TDB exerts the most significant influence on vertical stress, while the width and length of the TDB have a negligible impact. Moreover, internal friction angle has a more pronounced effect on vertical stress than cohesion force. A case study for a lead–zinc mine in China is presented in this work. Through uniaxial compressive strength and triaxial shear experiments, the key mechanical parameters of TDB at different ratios of cement to tailings are obtained. According to the theoretical model proposed herein, the distribution law of vertical stress in the height direction of TDB is determined for various ratios of cement to tailings. The original technical scheme of the mine has been optimized by using uniaxial compressive strength greater than vertical stress as the evaluation index, achieving both storage safety and cost reduction goals.

Factors influencing health worker compliance in implementing patient safety goals in Indonesia: Systematic review

The compliance rate of health workers in patient safety is not fully good at 68.7% and the implementation of patient safety in Indonesia is not optimal at 74.2% whereas in 2016 in Indonesia there were still 31 cases related to patient safety. To determine the factors that affect the compliance of health workers in the implementation of patient safety goals using a systematic review approach. This study uses a systematic review method from 9 studies using a quantitative approach commonly called a meta-analysis. The search for the source of this research data uses PRISMA flow charts from several databases such as Google Scholar, garuda portal, ProQuest, and Elsevier. Where published in the last 10 years (2013-2023). 25 variables were the same in the study between one researcher and another, namely age, gender, marital status, number of dependents, length of work, nurse knowledge, nurse motivation, supervision, nursing, organizational influence, educational status, compliance behavior, ability, supervisor support, fellow nurse support, workplace comfort, employment status, motivation, perception, nurse compliance, 6 patient safety goals, patient safety culture, patient identification, patient safety events, and patient fall prevention. The average P-Value value is 0.180, the minimum value of P-Value = 0.000, and the maximum value of P-Value = 0.995. 8 dominant factors influence health workers in implementing patient safety goals. 8 dominant factors influence health workers in implementing patient safety goals, namely knowledge, length of work, nurse work motivation, nurse perception, stress level and workload, nurse compliance, organizational influence, and supervisor support.

Perspectives on Perioperative Team-Based Morbidity and Mortality Conferences: A Mixed Methods Study

Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs) are quality improvement mechanisms during which adverse events are reviewed, often by physicians within a single discipline. There is a growing desire to include nonphysicians and physicians from other disciplines in team-based morbidity and mortality conferences (TBMMs). This mixed methods study investigates perioperative perspectives on MMCs generally and TBMMs specifically. A national survey of perioperative health care professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, was used to explore opinions about MMCs and TBMMs. Semistructured qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted with health care professionals and leaders at a single study site. Quantitative data were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Interview transcripts were inductively analyzed. Data were analyzed using a concurrent mixed methods approach, triangulating both sources of data. Survey respondents (N = 1,466) were generally positive about both MMCs and TBMMs, agreeing that conferences were respectful, affected practice, and were educational. Nurses, compared to surgeons and anesthesiologists, were more likely to find conferences educational (p = 0.004) and were less comfortable speaking up in conferences (p < 0.001). Attendees who had more experience with TBMMs rated conferences as having significantly higher utility in achieving educational and safety goals. Qualitative data from 14 participants identified barriers and facilitators at the micro, meso, and macro level. Barriers include negative personal interactions, unsupportive leadership, and legal and regulatory issues. Facilitators include interpersonal relationships between professionals, buy-in from leadership, and external motivators. Perceptions of TBMMs were overall positive, but significant barriers to implementation remain. Team members may be invited to the table, but more effort is needed to make the entire team feel included in the discussion and optimize the value of these conferences. Strategies for overcoming identified barriers remains an open area of research.

Safe Maintenance of Railways using COTS Mobile Devices: The Remote Worker Dashboard

The railway domain is regulated by rigorous safety standards to ensure that specific safety goals are met. Often, safety-critical systems rely on custom hardware-software components that are built from scratch to achieve specific functional and non-functional requirements. Instead, the (partial) usage of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components is very attractive as it potentially allows reducing cost and time to market. Unfortunately, COTS components do not individually offer enough guarantees in terms of safety and security to be used in critical systems as they are. In such a context, RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana), a major player in Europe for railway infrastructure management, aims at equipping track-side workers with COTS devices to remotely and safely interact with the existing interlocking system, drastically improving the performance of maintenance operations. This paper describes the first effort to update existing (embedded) railway systems to a more recent cyber-physical system paradigm. Our Remote Worker Dashboard (RWD) pairs the existing safe interlocking machinery alongside COTS mobile components, making cyber and physical components cooperate to provide the user with responsive, safe, and secure service. Specifically, the RWD is a SIL4 cyber-physical system to support maintenance of actuators and railways in which COTS mobile devices are safely used by track-side workers. The concept, development, implementation, verification, and validation activities to build the RWD were carried out in compliance with the applicable CENELEC standards required by certification bodies to declare compliance with specific guidelines.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Risk Factors for Nosocomial Pressure Injury among Hospitalized Adults at a Tertiary Hospital in Western Kenya

The high incidence and prevalence of nosocomial pressure injuries pose a threat to safe hospitalization and additional strain on the healthcare system. Analysis of pressure injury risk factors is necessary for efficient prevention and management as part of the program to ensure that no patient experiences any preventable harm while receiving care, as per the international patient safety goals. This study evaluated the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for pressure injury among cohorts of hospitalized adults using a prospective approach. The Braden Scale was used to assess the participants’ level of risk and classify low (score 15 to 23) and high (score 6 to 14) cohorts prior to follow-up. Binary regression analysis was used to establish an association between the risk factors and the development of stage 2 and above pressure injuries and the odds reported. The intrinsic factors—nutrition, sex, age, and primary diagnosis—influenced the occurrence of pressure injuries. Similarly, the extrinsic factors—sensory perception, moisture, mobility and activity, presence of a medical device, friction, and shear—showed an association with the development of pressure injuries. Poor nutrition, impaired mobility, and persistent moisture, however, were statistically the most significantly associated risk factors, at OR 18.20, CI 2.18–151.69, p =.01; OR 20.93, CI 1.13–387.92, p =.04; OR 16.11, CI 2.02–128.52, p =.01, respectively, confirming a significant association between intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors and the development of hospital-acquired pressure injury. These identified risk factors can be used to tailor intervention earlier on admission and avert these preventable injuries. Standardized, timely risk assessment and proactive addressing of the identified risk factor among hospitalized patients are therefore recommended.

Addressing Veteran Health-Related Social Needs: How Joint Commission Standards Accelerated Integration and Expansion of Tools and Services in the Veterans Health Administration

The Joint Commission recently named reduction of health care disparities and improvement of health care equity as quality and safety priorities (Leadership [LD] Standard LD.04.03.08 and National Patient Safety Goal [NPSG] Standard NPSG.16.01.01). As the largest integrated health system, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sought to leverage these new accreditation standards to further integrate and expand existing tools and initiatives to reduce health care disparities and address health-related social needs (HRSNs). A combination of existing data tools (for example, Primary Care Equity Dashboard), resource tools (for example, Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs tool), and a care delivery approach (for example, Whole Health) are discussed as quality improvement opportunities to further integrate and expand how VHA addresses health care disparities and HRSNs. The authors detail the development timeline, building, limitations, and future plans for these tools and initiatives. Responding to new health care equity Joint Commission standards led to new implementation strategies and deeper partnerships across VHA that facilitated expanded dissemination, technical assistance activities, and additional resources for VHA facilities to meet new standards and improve health care equity for veterans. Health care systems may learn from VHA's experiences, which include building actionable data platforms, employing user-centered design for initiative development and iteration, designing wide-reaching dissemination strategies for tools, and recognizing the importance of providing technical assistance for stakeholders. VHA continues to expand implementation of a diverse set of tools and resources to reduce health care disparities and identify and address unmet individual veteran HRSNs more widely and effectively.

Recommendations for embedding simulation in health services

Aspirations to achieve quality and safety goals in health services through simulation have led to significant investments in simulation equipment, space and faculty. However, the optimal governance and operational models through which these resources are expertly applied in health services are not known. There is growing evidence supporting ‘service’ models for simulation. In these models, simulation activities are co-designed and delivered by a team of simulation experts in partnership with health service units, specifically targeting quality and safety goals. Embedded simulation specialist teams working within these programs offer benefits not fully captured by traditional models of health education or by traditional systems for quality and safety.In this article, we explore broad and specific recommendations for establishing a simulation consultancy service within an Australian metropolitan health service. We base these recommendations on a review of current Australian practice and healthcare simulation literature, and on a specific example within a large outer metropolitan health service. The broad domains discussed include (1) governance and leadership; (2) human resources; (3) principles and planning; (4) operationalise and evaluate and (5) look to the future.The recommendations recognise that healthcare simulation is moving beyond solely addressing individual learning outcomes. The value of simulation addressing organisation and system objectives through various simulation modalities is increasingly being explored and demonstrating value. There is a growing demand for translational simulation in these contexts, and a consequent requirement for organisations to consider how simulation services can be successfully operationalised. Recommendations included in this paper are discussed and described with the intent of facilitating a deeper appreciation of the complexities associated with, and opportunities afforded by, a well-integrated simulation service.

Lifecycle mission safety for space nuclear systems

The development of novel space nuclear systems by governments and companies can greatly enhance space exploration, commerce, and defense capabilities. However, the predominant safety framework for space nuclear in soft law and in practice focuses narrowly on launch safety. A Lifecycle Mission Safety Framework provides a new heuristic to guide system designers, mission planners, regulators, and international law for safety across the broad range of space nuclear applications. It expands safety goals beyond protection of the terrestrial population to workers and astronauts, as well as to activities in orbital space and planetary surfaces. By defining mission phases and identifying safety considerations in each, this framework provides for proactive identification and management of risk.

High-accuracy torque estimation and safety control for induction motor used in electric vehicles

As a power output unit, Induction Motor (IM) is widely used in Electric Vehicles (EV) due to its unique advantages of higher power density and better torque ability. With more complicated motor controller system, there are some hardware and software failures which bring some risks including EV unexpected acceleration or deceleration, therefore it is necessary to build high-accuracy torque estimation and safety control strategy. Firstly, hazard and safety concept are analyzed to make sure function safety goals and levels for IM system. Secondly, a novel method of high-accuracy torque estimation is proposed based on a rotor dynamic and composite flux linkage observer. Then, fault diagnosis and handling mechanisms of motor torque are designed to avoid hazards when it is a significant difference between motor estimation torque and vehicle requested torque. Finally, power test and Hardware in Loop (HIL) bench are configured to verify torque estimation accuracy and fault protection mechanisms rationality by comparing test results and injecting related faults. Experiment result shows that motor torque accuracy is within ±5 Nm and fault protection mechanisms can bring motor to safety state promptly.

ELSMOR – towards European Licensing of Small Modular Reactors: Methodology recommendations for light-water small modular reactors safety assessment

Decarbonization of energy production is key in today’s societies and nuclear energy holds an essential place in this prospect. Besides heavy-duty electricity production, other industrial and communal needs could be served by integrating novel nuclear energy production systems, among which are low-power nuclear devices, like small modular reactors (SMRs). The ELSMOR (towards European Licensing of Small Modular Reactors) European project addresses this topic as an answer to the Horizon 2020 Euratom NFRP-2018-3 call. The consortium includes 15 partners from eight European countries, involving research institutes, major European nuclear companies and technical support organizations. The 3.5-year project, launched in September 2019, investigates selected safety features of light-water (LW) SMRs with focus on licensing aspects. Providing a comprehensive compliance framework that regulators can adopt and operate, the licensing process of such SMRs could be optimized, helping their deployment. In this prospect, as a result of ELSMOR’s work, this article gives an overview of the specific issues that LW-SMRs may bring about in the different domains of nuclear safety, in terms of: Methodological standpoints: safety goals, safety requirements, safety principles (defence-in-depth implementation);Main safety functions of reactivity control, decay heat removal and confinement management;Severe accident management;Other safety issues particular to SMRs: use of shared systems; performing of multi-unit probabilistic safety assessment (PSA); refuelling, spent fuel management, transport and disposal management. In this article, adequate methodologies are developed to deal with these issues and to help assess the safety of LW-SMRs. This work gives a precious synthesis of the safety assessment issues of LW-SMRs and of the associated methodologies developed in the context of the ELSMOR European project.