The OECD/LOFT Project: Achievements and Significant Results

The Loss-of-Fluid-Test (LOFT) facility in the United States was the object of an international research project undertaken by some of the Member countries of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency from 1983 to 1989. It was the only reactor test facility in the world to use nuclear fuel and to allow a complete simulation of the most serious kind of nuclear accidents, those which involve the loss of coolant from the reactor. The OECD/LOFT Project has enabled scientists and engineers to better analyse the phenomena associated with severe reactor accidents, and made significant contributions to their prevention and mitigation. The Open Forum presented the accomplishments of the project in the context of the overall evolution of nuclear safety and of the benefits of international co-operation in nuclear research