Comparison between Best-Estimate–Plus–Uncertainty Methods and Conservative Tools for Nuclear Power Plant Licensing

Andrea, Bucalossi; Petruzzi, A.; Kristof, M.; D'Auria, Francesco Saverio

doi:10.13182/nt172-29

Cited by 25 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Practical implementation of uncertainty quantification for these codes is very time-consuming including long and exhausting preparation of data, a high number of calculations, etc. [46]. Using high-fidelity multi-physics codes is computationally very expensive by itself and implementing BEPU may make exhausting, especially for long transients.…”

Section: Discussion and Final Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Modular Reactors Licensing Process Based on BEPU Approach: Status and Perspective

et al. 2023

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The competitiveness of small modular reactors (SMRs) has been planned based on design simplification, short construction time, passive safety systems, and enabling self-financing by ramp-up construction. Due to the global energy challenges, SMRs have received pervasive attention from a wide range of researchers, designers, developers, stakeholders, and customers. Besides the many advantages related to the design of SMRs, there are challenges ahead of these reactors. SMR licensing is one of the most critical challenges in the front deployment of these reactors. This challenge stems from innovations in SMR designs and systems, such as modularity or deployment for desalination, energy storage, hydrogen production, process heat, and district heating. Due to the lack of experimental data and technical knowledge, the licensing challenges for non-water coolant SMRs are more complicated. Nearly all previous generation reactor licenses were based on conservative analysis while the decision-making methods based on best-estimate and realistic approaches have received more attention in recent years. Thus, the method known as the best estimate plus uncertainty (BEPU) approach is selected for licensing in some cases. At this time, using the BEPU approach in licensing for conventional NPPs is a mature technology and ready for industrial application. Nevertheless, because most previous reactors were licensed based on conservative methods, developers and even regulatory bodies resist re-assessments based on the BEPU approach, while using the choice of conventional conservative methods is a type of roll-back for next-generation SMRs. Thus, this work reviews the BEPU approach and clarifies the possibility of using this approach in the licensing process of SMRs. The lack of experimental data and tight coupling of phenomena along with uncertainty quantification are the main challenges ahead of using BEPU in the licensing process of SMRs.

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Section: Discussion and Final Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small Modular Reactors Licensing Process Based on BEPU Approach: Status and Perspective

et al. 2023

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“…There are several important distinctions between the analyses of bounding events for the FHR based on current analysis, performance-based regulation goals and the historic conservative licensing of LWRs such as LOCA analysis under 10 CFR 50 Appendix K [71]. First, the analysis of FHR BDBEs should be based on best estimate plus uncertainty methods for the analysis of reactor transients [72], [73]. Modern analysis and simulation methods will be used to design and license FHRs [74]; these methods can account for more realistic system response to initiating events.…”

Section: Bounding Events Approach For Bdbesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and licensing strategies for the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) technology

Scarlat

Laufer

Blandford

et al. 2014

Progress in Nuclear Energy

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Fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) technology combines the robust coated-particle fuel of high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors with the single phase, high volumetric heat capacity coolant of molten salt reactors and the low-pressure pool-type reactor configuration of sodium fast reactors. FHRs have the capacity to deliver heat at high average temperature, and thus to achieve higher thermal efficiency than light water reactors. Licensing of the passive safety systems used in FHRs can use the same framework applied successfully to passive advanced light water reactors, and earlier work by the NGNP and PBMR projects provide an appropriate framework to guide the design of safety-relevant FHR systems. This paper provides a historical review of the development of FHR technology, describes ongoing development efforts, and presents design and licensing strategies for FHRs. A companion review article describes the phenomenology, methods and experimental program in support of FHR.

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“…For instance, the nuclear industry faces major issues as facilities age and regulatory authorities' requirements toughen (Bucalossi et al, 2010;Mousseau and Williams, 2017). One precise case is where operators have to study loss of coolant accidents (LOCA), which result in a break in the primary loop of pressurized water nuclear reactors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Information Geometry Approach to Robustness Analysis for the Uncertainty Quantification of Computer Codes

et al. 2021

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HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

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Comparison between Best-Estimate–Plus–Uncertainty Methods and Conservative Tools for Nuclear Power Plant Licensing

Cited by 25 publications

References 7 publications

Small Modular Reactors Licensing Process Based on BEPU Approach: Status and Perspective

Small Modular Reactors Licensing Process Based on BEPU Approach: Status and Perspective

Design and licensing strategies for the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) technology

An Information Geometry Approach to Robustness Analysis for the Uncertainty Quantification of Computer Codes

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