Innovation and research in reactor safety

In line with the engineered safeguards principle of in-depth safety, the su rvey article deals with innovation and research in the field of reactor saf ety, improvements in plant operation, innovation in accident management, an d reduction of the consequences of severe accidents. The survey reveals that the development and application of innovative and e fficient technologies is aimed primarily at the management of aging and of the operating life, and at simplifying and improving operations processes. Another area of innovation is accident management. In this respect, some of the main areas under development are the expansion of the multi-level safe ty concept, the introduction of further accident control measures so as to complete the spectrum of accidents covered, the quantification of safety ma rgins by means of the application of modem methods of computation, and the introduction of passive elements reducing the need for Fast countermeasures to be initiated by the plant operating personnel. The authors conclude tha t, on the whole, light water reactors attain a level of safety which, in co mbination with corresponding efforts in the economic sector, is a precondit ion for the renaissance of nuclear technology in the century just begun. The second part of the article, which is to be published in July, will deal mainly with the reduction of consequences of severe accidents.