ML25092A096
| ML25092A096 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nuclear Energy Institute |
| Issue date: | 03/12/2025 |
| From: | Uhle J Nuclear Energy Institute |
| To: | NRC/NRR/DRA |
| References | |
| Download: ML25092A096 (1) | |
Text
©2025 Nuclear Energy Institute NRC RIC - Session W10 Dr. Jennifer Uhle, NEI March 12, 2025 Use of Risk Insights to Enhance Safety, Flexibility &
Efficiency
©2025 Nuclear Energy Institute 2 Determinism & Risk: Solid as a Rock Applying risk insights reduces residual risk & improves safety Deterministic requirements are the foundation of safety Residual risk remains even when all requirements are met PRA helps identify the cracks NRC rulemakings helped fill the cracks: ATWS, SBO, post-Fukushima (FLEX), etc
©2025 Nuclear Energy Institute 3 Determinism & Risk Enable Flexibility Applying risk insights enhances flexibility PRA can evaluate the residual risk increase when considering flexibility Flexibility is permitted when residual risk remains acceptably low Key NRC risk-informed programs Risk-informed In-service Inspection Risk-informed Surveillance Frequency Risk-informed Completion Time Risk-informed Special Treatment (50.69)
Risk-informed LOCA?
©2025 Nuclear Energy Institute 4 RI completion time & surveillance frequency -> avoid plant transients from unnecessary shutdowns RI special treatment -> safety-related SSC of low risk significance procured in days vs. months & puts plant in a safer state RI special treatment -> increases treatment on non-safety related SSC of high significance RI in-service inspection -> reduces worker dose & puts plant in safer state RI special treatment -> allows operational & design efficiency, which can enable more clean power Flexibility Also Enhances Safety Use of risk insights enables safety, flexibility & efficiency
©2025 Nuclear Energy Institute 5
Risk insights complement deterministic requirements & make a more solid foundation of safety Focus time & attention on what matters most to safety*
Risk-informing enhances safety, flexibility & efficiency All are necessary for the expansion of nuclear power in todays environment
Prerequisites
Quality PRA
Operating experience to inform availability & reliability
Common cause failure treatment
Treatment of human reliability
Consideration of uncertainty
Should be risk-informed - evaluate risk, defense-in-depth & safety margins collectively Key Take-aways & Caveats The use of risk insights is needed to meet the moment
- NEI 20 - 04, The Nexus Between Safety and Operational Performance in the U.S. Nuclear Industry