Implications of Power Uprates on Safety Margins of Nuclear Power Plants

This publication addresses the specific topics relating to the utilization of safety margins for nuclear power plant (NPP) uprates. Progress made in the development and application of modern computer codes for safety analysis and a better understanding of the phenomena involved in plant design and operation enable analysts to determine licensing margins with higher precision. There is a general tendency for utilities to take advantage of unnecessarily large conservatism in safety analyses and to utilize them for reactor power uprates, better utilization of nuclear fuel, higher operational flexibility and justification of lifetime extension. The present publication presents the results of a technical meeting on the Implications of Power Uprates on Safety Margins of NPPs which was organized in cooperation with the Nuclear Energy Agency of the OECD.