New approaches for safety and licensing in advanced nuclear power plants

The participation of UTE-INITEC/EMPRESARIOS AGRUPADOS(UTE) in Advanced Reactor projects being carried out by Agrupacion Electrica para el Desarrollo Tecnologico (DTN) has facilitated its knowledge and acquisition of tools to develop studies required for the licensing and safety assessment of future reactors. This paper discusses the most significant topics from this point of view. In addition to analysing the scope and content of aspects which are given a new approach in Advanced Reactors, reference is made to specific works carried out in the UTE for each of them and the tools acquired for their application and development in a specific reactor. The topics dealt with in this paper can be grouped into three large areas: Modification of the licensing process and safety criteria Integration in the design of aspects relating to operation and maintenance Consideration of Severe Accidents during design Acquiring the technology to be used to develop safety criteria and assessments for future reactors could, as happens in other countries, be useful when it comes to resolving issues in operating plants that require new approaches. (Author)