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 (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-Euratom - Euratom
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-Euratom-1. - Indirect actions
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) NFRP-2019-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
250 68 HUSINEC REZ
Czechia
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.