EURATOM: Safety Research and Innovation for advanced nuclear systems | CDE Almería - Centro de Documentación Europea

This project to research and innovate in the field of safety for advanced nuclear systems is part of the EURATOM sub-programme of the Horizon 2020 Programme.

Advanced nuclear systems for increased sustainability and first Generation-IV reactors are expected to be fully operational around the world in coming decades. In the meantime, all new concepts and designs currently under development, both in Europe and worldwide, will need to demonstrate compliance with evolving and ever more stringent safety requirements. In this context, a significant increase in the level of safety is expected to be demonstrated. Advanced designs should show increased resilience to severe accidents , while also offering major advantages in terms of one or more of: use of uranium resource, reduction of high-level waste production and increased proliferation resistance.

This activity will build on the experiences gained within the EU, whilst ensuring that research and technical expertise on nuclear safety of Generation-IV reactors, including assessment of safety features, is shared effectively at EU level. It will also take into account all relevant orientations promoted in the framework of the Generation-IV International Forum (GIF) to fulfil the commitment of Euratom.

Objective

This action is aimed at the development and technical assessment of safety improvements of Generation-IV systems and their supporting reactor islands, as identified by the SNETP European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative and the GIF R&D outlook^[1]. This can include inter alia the study, modelling and numerical simulation, verification, validation and licensing aspects of core safety parameters, thermal-hydraulics of coolants and liquid fuels, compatibility of structural materials and components with coolants or liquid fuels, reliability of automatic and passive shutdown systems, diversified residual heat removal systems, improved strategy of confinement modes, mitigation of severe accident behaviour, instrumentation for safety, in-service inspection and repair of safety-related components, as well as seismic studies.