Emergency Management Frameworks for Remote SMRs

Abstract

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are being considered for deployment in remote and northern locations in Canada, with the candidates closest to deployment for off-grid applications being TRISO fuel-based high temperature gas-cooled reactors or heat pipe reactors. It will likely be necessary to adapt emergency management programs to the hazard profile and deployment environment for these SMRs, ensuring that they still meet necessary safety objectives. This study explores these concepts by i) considering the radionuclide release profiles for TRISO-fueled SMRs, including both the potential timing of release as well as radionuclide composition, ii) developing operational intervention levels (OILs), which would be the framework for projecting a public dose impact from monitoring network result, and iii) considering the environmental radionuclide transport and public food consumption behaviour, which would inform ingestion control strategies. Concepts of operation, ranging from standard proactive, precautionary protection strategies to reactive intervention level strategies are explored.