Status of Validation Matrices for CANDU Power Plants

Abstract

As reported at the 1996 CNS Annual Conference, in mid-1995 the CANDU industry began to develop validation matrices for CANDU power plants. Of the eight matrices required to address all physical phenomena that could occur in all relevant accident categories, two have been prepared and tabled with the Atomic Energy Control Board, and the remaining six are targeted for submission during 1997. The matrices provide the generic, code- independent knowledge base that will be used to validate major safety analysis codes over the next four years. The unique achievement reported in this paper is the identification and listing of all physical phenomena in all relevant accident categories.