[ RadSafe ] Fwd: CNSC assesses the progression of a hypothetical blackout at a nuclear power plant

[sfisher373 at aol.com]

With all the talk about pressure tube reactors etc, here is some info on the CANDU 






After the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011, one of the many actions committed to by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in its Integrated Action Plan was an assessment and video representation for the public of how a full station blackout could progress in a CANDU reactor in Canada. This video was posted online in January 2013. As a follow-up, the CNSC has produced a technical paper, titled Severe Accident Progression Without Operator Action. The paper assesses the timing of a hypothetical blackout, using the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station for illustration.

For the assessment, it was necessary to make the extremely unrealistic assumption that operators take absolutely no action after a full station blackout. The assessment is not used to determine the effect of releases, but rather to assess the potential time and magnitude of releases to determine what operator action can be taken to prevent releases. The assessment identifies the multiple points when operator action becomes critical to stop the progression of an accident. Also, the assessment shows there is adequate time for operator action.

Post-Fukushima, the CNSC has strengthened the tools available to operators as well as operator training and guidance. These new measures provide further confidence that operator action will be able to stop the progression of any accident, including a severe accident, prior to any release of radioactivity into the environment.

Read the abstract of the technical paper:

http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/resources/research/technical-papers-and-articles/2015/2015-severe-accident-progression-without-operator-action.cfm

Read about the Integrated Action Plan:

http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/resources/fukushima/index.cfm

Watch the video, Understanding Nuclear Power Plants: Total Station Blackout:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vggzl9OngaM

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