Advanced reactors: Safety and environmental considerations

General trends for providing the safety level of the next generation of nuclear power plants(NPP) are discussed. The conclusion is made that the large number of concepts under consideration and the large number of design institutions the ultimate goals are to maintain and improve both the economics and safety of nuclear power. In general, there seems to be agreement that the basic safety principles for NPP issued by INSAG should be extended to include the following specific aspects for the future NPP: operating and maintenance procedures; simplified, more user-friendly design; design for systematic confinement of fission products in the event of severe accident conditions; reduction of the probability for major accidents through design features; protection against sabotage and conventionally armed attacks; consideration of passive safety features