Project description
Integrity assessment for nuclear power plants
Electricity produced by nuclear power plants constitutes a reliable base-load supply of emission-free electricity and plays an important role in energy security. The EU depends on nuclear power for about 25 % of its electricity. This is why refurbishing the EU’s current fleet of nuclear power plants is necessary in order to extend their operative lifetimes. The EU-funded APAL project is developing a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) integrity assessment for pressurised thermal shock (PTS). This is the most limiting safety assessment for the long-term operation of nuclear power plants. The project’s goal is to advance long-term operation with the identification of possible improvements in the power plants’ hardware, software and procedures that can have an impact on PTS.
Objective
In the EU, most of the nuclear power plants (NPPs) are currently in the second half of their designed lifetime, making lifetime extension an important aspect for the EU countries. One of the most limiting safety assessments for long term operation (LTO) is the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) integrity assessment for pressurized thermal shock (PTS). The goal is to demonstrate the safety margin against fast fracture initiation or RPV failure. To verify safe operation of existing NPPs going through LTO upgrades, advanced methods and improvements are necessary.
In the EU, currently used PTS analyses are based on deterministic assessment and conservative boundary conditions. This type of PTS analyses is reaching its limits in demonstrating the safety for NPPs facing LTO and need to be enhanced. However, inherent safety margins exist and several LTO improvements and advanced methods are intended to increase the safety margins of PTS analysis. Additionally, the quantification of safety margins in terms of risk of RPV failure by advanced probabilistic assessments becomes more important.
The main objectives of this project are establishing of state-of-the-art for LTO improvements having an impact on PTS analysis: NPP improvements (hardware, software, procedures), development of advanced deterministic and probabilistic PTS assessment method including thermal hydraulic (TH) uncertainty analyses, quantification of safety margins for LTO improvements and development of best-practice guidance.
After establishing the LTO improvements, TH calculations will be performed including also uncertainty quantification relevant to PTS assessment. Benchmark calculations for both deterministic and probabilistic RPV integrity assessment will be performed with the goal to establish the impact of LTO improvements and TH uncertainties on the overall RPV integrity margins.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-Euratom - Euratom Main Programme
- H2020-Euratom-1. - Indirect actions
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
250 68 Husinec Rez
Czechia