Accident analysis, i.e., deterministic safety analysis, is an important tool for confirming the…

Accident analysis, i.e., deterministic safety analysis, is an important tool for confirming the adequacy and efficiency of provisions within the defense-in-depth concept for the safety of nuclear power plants (NPPs). An analysis that lacks consistency or quality or is incomplete represents a safety issue for a given NPP. The safety of NPPs is based on the defense-in-depth concept, which relies on successive physical barriers (fuel matrix, cladding, primary system pressure boundary, and contain ment) and other provisions to control radioactive materials. This includes on multiple levels of protection against damage to these barriers and against undue radiological impact on the NPP itself and its surroundings. Demonstration that there is no undue risk caused by plant operation is obtained by means of the safety assessment of a NPP. Therefore, for this chapter there is really no particular problem that can be assigned as homework. Hence, we encourage readers do their own research analysis and locate various reports on the Internet and in open sources. One of the reports that we can recommend here to start with is at the following link: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1131_scr.pdf. The purpose of this report is to provide the necessary practical guidance for performing adequate accident analysis in the light of current good practice worldwide.