Safety assessments for Long Term Operation (LTO) upgrades of Generation II and III reactors

• Improvement of computer codes and models for comprehensive safety assessments of the response to any potential accident-initiating event. These safety assessments shall cover as far as possible the entire EU operating fleet and anticipated lifetime i.e. their current designs as well as proposed modifications for LTO.
• Use of available data on aging of components and equipment shall be maximised and LTO-related aging mechanisms shall be assessed versus any potential, relevant accident phenomenology.
• Experimental validation of updated computer codes and models shall be proposed where particularly relevant for safety. Updated numerical simulations shall be proposed inter alia in the field of thermal hydraulics and structural mechanics.
• Formulation of guidance for improved methodologies and recommendations for the assessment of LTO upgrades, including diagnostics upgrades (especially human-plant interface systems), human reliability and accident mitigation by EME, shall be also promoted to facilitate regulatory reviews and safety assessments by regulatory bodies.

International cooperation in this area must be promoted in order to provide additional value and consensus. The involvement of entities from third countries is of high importance and their participation is strongly encouraged.

At least 5% of the total action budget must be dedicated to Education and Training activities for Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers and trainees supported through the action (see Conditions for the Call- Eligibility and admissibility conditions).

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the Euratom Programme up to EUR 4.0 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts

Research actions need to be undertaken to verify the safe operation of the existing nuclear fleet currently going through LTO upgrades. These comprehensive safety assessments shall verify the safety features affected by Long Term Operation (LTO) of upgraded Gen II and III designs where possible/appropriate. They should include research on human factors wherever relevant (e.g. human reliability under severe accidents), and possibly identify best practices able to minimise radiological risks under severe accidents e.g. by use of Emergency Mobile Equipment (EME).

Development and qualification of tools, systems and practices for the reduction of vulnerabilities of operating plants under hypothetical severe accident conditions, in particular for foreseen LTO regimes. It would result in reinforcement of the safety features and management of the Generation II and III EU nuclear reactors fleet and would support/demonstrate compliance with the amended Nuclear Safety Directive.