Overview of Probabilistic Risk Assessment Methodology

Abstract

Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) has provided consistent methodology for systematic and quantitative safety studies in nuclear reactors. This method has been widely applied for reactor safety studies around the world, and was accepted as one of the major safety analysis tools in nuclear reactor and other complex engineering systems. General procedures for Level 1, 2 and 3 PRA analyses will be described and some of the important tasks in each level would be explained. The supplementary tasks of uncertainty and importance analyses will be discussed in general terms. The strengths and weaknesses inherent in current methodologies will be introduced.