Licensing of CAREM prototype

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2 Licensing of CAREM prototype WORKSHOP ON NEW CHALLENGES FACING NUCLEAR REGULATORS IFNEC-NEA Paris, May 28 th 29 th Néstor Masriera President of the Board, ARN

3 Licensing of CAREM prototype CAREM is a small, advanced, integrated reactor (SMR) Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) is the licensee Licensing of CAREM began as a non-routine practice licensing procedure, and a Use of site and initiation of constructions authorization was issued against a Design Report (2013) From now on it is foreseen to catch up the standard NPP licensing procedure, and a PSAR is due by Its approval will lead to the Commissioning License

4 CAREM prototype

5 CAREM prototype

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7 CAREM prototype Project CNEA is the Responsible Entity / owner / principal Main contracts on: Detailed engineering (INVAP + others) Civil works (Techint) BoP (TECNA-Siemens) RPV (IMPSA) Steam Generators (FAE) fuel (CONUAR) Before Construction Permit The integration concept qualified (experimentally + analytically) Fuel / core performance tested Verification that process systems feature proven design solutions Today Containment components are being assembled Turbine is on site (FAT completed) RPV is under construction SG fabrication plan is complete Detailed Engineering is quite complete CRD qualification completion is foreseen

8 Approach to LICENSING CAREM prototype Our licensing process is between ARN and CNEA Suppliers support The Safety Standards to comply are Argentinean ones plus some international standards, being signatories of Conventions and a IAEA MS. Industrial C&S have a role in the qualification of the components compliance of engineering requirements. There is not a mandatory one. Foreign C&S can be proposed by the Utility under proper justification. We have a shared understanding of the approach with CNEA Workshops Interchange History CNEA was the mother institution of Argentine Utility, Vendor and Regulator Today it is THE nuclear R&D institution

9 ARN Regulatory Approach ARN has a defined identity as a regulator: Goal-setting approach (NON prescriptive) Adherence to international guidelines (IAEA Safety Standards) A clear view of the integrality of the safety assessment, connecting: the safety demonstration essentially by a deterministic-functional-analysis A safety classification by an essentially deterministic method (SSG-30) Regulatory safety engineering requirements are defined for each Class Requirements on systems coming from Safety Standards Regulatory relevant requirements on components are focused on functional capability / reliability / robustness and are dealt by specific C&S C&S are essentially a qualification means, and the adequacy of their use has to be justified by the licensee Concept of Licensing Basis, to be kept during life cycle

10 Questions on LICENSING CAREM Which is the role of Safety Standards on demonstrating Safety? Setting Safety Requirements Safety Standards define requirements at Plant level. E.g. DID independence of design provisions for each level (*) Single failure criterion (resistance achieved within system) specific safety goals - CDF, LERF, Criterion Curve OLC treatment - SAR content Plant Programmes Operating License conditions (*) Classification based on functional analysis of failures consequences safety requirements at the Components level are on functional capability (effectiveness, safety margins) reliability (MTBF failure rate on demand) robustness (mechanical loads, environmental, consequential failure) Industrial C&S are focused on qualifying the compliance with Safety Requirements of components (SSCs in general)

11 Questions on LICENSING CAREM cont Can industrial C&S from a country with a prescriptive approach be used in a project abroad? As we discussed yesterday, given certain circumstances, exporting on a turnkey scheme a plant of certified design WORKS Applying industrial C&S of a foreign prescriptive approach to SSC of a Plant whose design is not certified may not link clearly the industrial C&S and Safety Standards the compliance of safety-engineering requirements may not be demonstrated by the use of these C&S. As example issues for discussion: In order to have CAREM RPV accomplishing requirements of reliability and robustness, is it reasonable to apply the same ASME mechanical standards as for the RPVs of certified PWR design? In order to have CAREM in-vessel CRD complying with requirements of reliability and robustness, is it reasonable to apply ASME mechanical standards used in some other component of a certified design?

12 Questions on C&S Regulators need a view of the role of C&S in the demonstration of safety. It is already quite clear, in case of a plant of certified design within the frame of a prescriptive approach. How clear / accountable are the links among safety goals / standards safety engineering requirements and industrial C&S When the C&S of countries A and B are analyzed for their use / compatibility in a non-certified design, is it useful to compare the complete text of C&S? From a regulator viewpoint, they should only be compared on the elements contributing to the compliance of Safety Standards (i.e. to functional capability, reliability and robustness)

13 More Questions on C&S Is there any chance of having an internationally complete set of Safety Standards in the near future? Not much, if sovereign regulators stick to customized Safety Standards Would it still be useful to clarify the role of C&S in the demonstration of safety? In the qualification of compliance of safety requirements? In demonstrating safety, the role of C&S is focused on the compliance of engineered requirements, Specifically on function and its failure: functional capability (effectiveness, safety margins) reliability (MTBF failure rate on demand) robustness (environmental endurance, consequential failure, mech loads) If this link was explicitly presented (accountable, quantifiable), even if national C&S were different, it would be possible to analyze their replacement / interchange in the demonstration / qualification of safety requirements. Perhaps this is a path towards a globalized nuclear market

14 Thanks a lot! Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear