CANDU 9 Safety Enhancements and Licensability

Abstract

The CANDU 9 design has followed the evolutionary product development approach that has characterized the CANDU family of nuclear power plants. In addition to utilizing proven equipment and systems from operating stations, the CANDU 9 design has looked ahead to incorporate design and safety enhancements necessary to meet evolving utility and regulatory requirements both in Canada and overseas. To demonstrate licensability in Canada, and to assure overseas customers that the design had independent regulatory review in the country of origin, the pre-project Basic Engineering Program included an extensive two year formal review by the Canadian regulatory authority, the Atomic Energy Control Board (AECB). Documentation submitted for this licensing review included the licensing basis, safety requirements and safety analyses necessary to demonstrate compliance with regulations as well as to assess system design and performance. The licensing review was successfully completed in 1997 January. In addition, to facilitate licensability in Korea, CANDU 9 incorporates feedback from the application of Korean licensing requirements to the CANDU 6 reactors at Wolsong site.