Power Reactor Safety Comparison - a Limited Review

Abstract

A large amount of attention has been paid to avoiding positive coolant void reactivity in LWR reactors. This can be justified due to specific accident events that could lead to severe consequences. Somewhat less attention has been paid to other accident sequences that can lead to positive reactivity addition. Other designs, for example the CANDU-PHWR, exhibit positive coolant void reactivity but include both inherent and engineered systems that compensate for this undesirable characteristic. This paper represents the beginning of a long-term process intended to enable a balanced and fair comparison of the real safety of all reactor types.