APPROACHES AND METHODS TO COMPUTE UNCERTAINTY
IN LICENSING CALCULATIONS

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Best estimate codes supplemented by uncertainty evaluation (i.e. BEPU = Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty) achieved a suitable maturity and can be applied to the licensing process of water cooled nuclear power plants. The licensing process constitutes the key element for demonstrating the safety of a nuclear power plant. Thus BEPU approach is relevant to the licensing.

The current challenge is the ‘distributed’ and ‘comprehensive’ application of the BEPU methods within the FSAR (Final Safety Analysis Report), making reference to the physical barriers to the release of the fission products and to the safety functions, other than considering the existing acceptability threshold (i.e. the heredity from the conservative approach). In this manner a homogeneous level of safety can be ensured for all the aspects that are part of the FSAR.

Furthermore, nowadays the application of the BEPU methods must be consistent with the best-latest available information in various technological sectors (e.g. computational fluid dynamics, three-dimensional neutron kinetics computational tools and structural mechanics codes). The demonstration of suitable qualification for the computational tools constitutes a challenge for the present Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty approach.

This special session is intended for analysts to exchange information in nuclear reactor applications and systems with particular emphasis on safety applications. Manuscripts related with assessment, verification and applications of Best estimate Plus Uncertainty methods are encouraged.

Please select E-2) when you submit your abstrct and paper.