A System Analysis Approach in Safe Machine Design for Nuclear Applications: MYRRHA In-Vessel Fuel Manipulation

This paper reviews the safety approach in the design of the in-vessel fuel manipulator (IVFM) for the GEN-IV reactor MYRRHA. The objectives are to establish the acceptance criteria for safe fuel operation, the design and operation methods to reach these, and adequate tests to validate these methods. Within the framework of the national legislation and international guidelines, we iden- tify the safety functions of the IVFM and evaluate the ad- equacy of the design and failure response measures in mini- mizing the related risks to a tolerable level. We approach the safety analysis of the IVFM by both an inductive bottom- up Failure Mode and Effects (FMEA) and deductive top- down Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). A low-resolution FMEA at the component level allows us to organize the testing, warns us about expected failure modes, and prioritizes com- ponent and design adjustments based on predicted effects. The complementary FTA maps out the failure paths lead- ing to the most important top failure events of the IVFM in criticality, heat, and radiation.

Jaar van publicatie:2012

Trefwoorden:generation IV research reactor, remote manipulation, nuclear safety, system analysis