Comparison between 2nd and 4th generation nuclear power plants, concerning nuclear safety

• Grant number: 16/06664-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering - Reactor Technologies
• Principal Investigator: Thadeu das Neves Conti
• Grantee: Frederico Emidio Wu
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Safety is one of the most important aspects of a nuclear reactor. Along with radioactive residue treatment, it is crucial to the confidence in nuclear power as a viable energy generation alternative. As such, with the new reactor concepts in development, it is necessary to evaluate their innovations in safety, especially in comparison to the reactors in operation in the world today. Therefore, it is essential to research the general characteristics and focus on those relevant to safety, both of the reactor types in use and the concepts in development, in order to assess and compare the safety of each of the new concepts.