CSNI Technical Opinion Papers
Nuclear Energy Agency
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Technical opinion papers (TOPs) are the summary consensus of experts for a particular topic in the field of nuclear safety. They are the result of work carried out under the aegis of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI). The first TOP was released in 2002. Topics addressed in TOPs have included: Fire Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA); Recurring Events; Human Reliability Analysis in PSA for Nuclear Power Plants; Managing and Regulating Organisational Change in Nuclear Installations; Living PSA and its Use in the Nuclear Safety Decision-making Process; Development and Use of Risk Monitors at Nuclear Power Plants; Level-2 PSA for Nuclear Power Plants; The Role of Human and Organisational Factors in Nuclear Power Plant Modifications; Better Nuclear Plant Maintenance: Improving Human and Organisational Performance; Research on Human Factors in New Nuclear Plant Technology; Loss-of-Coolant Accidents Criteria Basis and Test Methodology; Nuclear Licensee Organisational Structures, Resources and Competencies: Determining their Suitability; Ageing Management of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities; and Defence in Depth of Electrical Systems.
- ISSN: 27073009 (online)
- https://doi.org/10.1787/91cedea8-en
LOCA Criteria Basis and Test Methodology
Nuclear Energy Agency
Acceptance criteria for emergency core cooling systems (ECCS) define the maximum temperature and degree of oxidation in order to avoid excessive embrittlement and hence failure of the fuel cladding, which would affect core cooling in the case of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). The criteria are mainly based on experimental data obtained in the 1970s-80s. Several types of tests have been performed to evaluate structural integrity and embrittlement of the cladding under LOCA conditions, and consequently different test methodologies have been used for determining the cladding embrittlement criteria. The current trend towards high burn-up and the use of new cladding alloys has increased the need for international discussions on these test methodologies and acceptance criteria. In response, the NEA Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) and its Working Group on Fuel Safety produced this technical opinion paper, which should be of particular interest to nuclear safety regulators, nuclear power plant operators and fuel researchers.
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