Advanced PTS Analysis for LTO

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.