Patent ID: 7191108
Filing Date: 2007-03-13
Classification: G21C,G21D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A risk-informed method for safety analyses of nuclear power generating systems, said method comprising: ordering events by an initiating event frequency; defining an initiating event frequency threshold value; defining acceptance criteria having an adjusted amount of conservatism, wherein the amount of conservatism is a function of the initiating event frequency; determining if an event has an event initiating frequency at or above the threshold value; determining if an event has an event initiating frequency below the threshold value; and determining if a nuclear power generating system meets licensing requirements by: analyzing an event by a deterministic safety analysis methodology when the event has an event initiating frequency at or above the threshold value to produce an event analysis result; or analyzing an event by a probabilistic risk assessment methodology when the event has an event initiating frequency below the threshold value to produce an event analysis result; comparing the event analysis result to the defined acceptance criteria to determine if the nuclear power generating system meets licensing requirements; and outputting a comparison result that indicates if the nuclear power generating system meets licensing requirements.