SAFETY RE-EVALUATION OF RESEARCH REACTORS: A new trend in licence requirements

摘要

The Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) has more than 40 years' experience in the nuclear field. This includes experience in the operation of a wide range of nuclear facilities, including operation of the 50 MW(th) high flux reactor (HFR) owned by the European Commission and the 30 kW(th) low flux reactor (LFR). Up until the mid-1990s, the operation of most research reactors was covered by an open-ended licence without a requirement for a periodic safety review. The licensing policy for nuclear installations, however, has been changed over the last 10 to 15 years in most western countries. In the majority of new nuclear act licences, a requirement for a periodic safety review is prescribed. In the framework of the re-licensing process for the LFR in 2000, and in the framework of the running re-licensing process of the HFR, a safety re-evaluation for both reactors has been performed by the NRG at the request of the nuclear regulatory body of the Netherlands. IAEA Safety Series No. 35 has been taken as the basis for a safety re-evaluation of the LFR. Since no reference licensing basis was available for a 50 MW(th) research reactor, a licensing basis for the HFR had to be defined. The safety re-evaluation of the HFR was performed in the re-licensing process, which will be completed by the end of 2003.