Interest in the analysis of beyond design basis accidents, involving a combination of several failures with fuel damage, has increased throughout the world after the Fukushima accident. Stress tests were performed at NPPs, and development of severe accident management guidelines was started. These activities necessitated calculations to analyze the probability of beyond design basis accidents and assess their initiating events and consequences. One of the aspects in analysis of beyond design basis accidents is to determine the potential for re-criticality during such accidents.
The paper provides results of some criticality safety calculations for VVER reactors performed, in particular, by ÚJV Řež and SSTC NRS experts. It is shown how criticality can occur in different severe accident phases.