Small Modular Reactor Utilization of Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria, invited

摘要

In the 1980s the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) developed a plan to streamline the licensing process for nuclear power plants, moving from two-step to one-step licensing. The newer one-step licensing process allows each reactor vendor to pursue a design certification rule to obtain approvar-for the reactor design before construction. The vendor then defines the inspections, tests, analysis and acceptance criteria (ITAAC) necessary for the NRC to assure the proper construction and installation of the intended design. The ITAAC are the only source of acceptance criteria after construction, and must resolve all open items before the fuel loading. When ITAAC developed as part of the 10 C.F.R. Part 52 licensing process, the focus was on large, standardized reactors that would be assembled at the reactor location. As a result, the ITAAC regime lacks the scope to reflect the opportunities inherent in small modular reactors (SMRs), such as assembly-line construction and a greater range of potential applications.