EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN SUBSTANTIATION OF SODIUM COOLED FAST REACTORS SAFETY

A large volume of scientific and research activities is currently carried out in substantiation of new projects on nuclear reactor safety, in which high emphasis is placed on “beyond-design basis” accidents, in spite of the fact that applied technical solutions reduce the probability of such accidents occurrence.
To study parameters of severe accidents and develop measures to mitigate consequences an experimental base is necessary, which enables emergency situation modelling maximally close to real conditions.
The National Nuclear Center (NNC) – the leading research organization in the atomic sphere in the Republic of Kazakhstan – possesses such an experimental base, providing scientific and technical support for peaceful uses of nuclear power, involving studies oriented towards the improvement of nuclear reactor safety [1].
The article presents the concept and general results of researches carried out on NNC’s experimental base in substantiation of nuclear reactors safety, realized in collaboration with JAEA, which is a key foreign partner in this area, as well as current plans on new experimental program implementation.

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