Risk Assessments and Regulatory Concerns for Canada's Gen-IV Reactors

Abstract

The Generation-IV reactor design Canada is working on is the Supercritical Water Reactor. It leverages the reliable CANDU fuel technology yet operates at temperatures and pressures that far exceed the traditional CANDU's operating conditions. The safety regulations of Canadian nuclear industries are examined in relation to the Supercritical Water Reactor to assess if the regulations require modifications to account for the new reactor type. Also necessary is a revised safety and risk assessment of this nuclear power plant. This paper highlights some of the considerations that will form the basis of a Probabilistic Safety Assessment of this new reactor.