Do you have experience working with evolutionary and innovative reactor designs and are interested in furthering their safety? Then register by 31 January and submit your abstract to be considered for a presentation at the International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety: Strengthening Safety of Evolutionary and Innovative Reactor Designs, to be held in Vienna, Austria from 18 to 21 October 2022.
Evolutionary and innovative reactor designs have generated increased interest in recent years as technologies are maturing and plans to deploy these technologies have been made in several countries. In lockstep with technical developments, regulators will need to be prepared to evaluate the safety cases of these reactors and - eventually - decide on licensing applications. This conference is organized to address this topic.
"Robust safety demonstration and an effective regulatory framework are essential for the safe and successful deployment of any nuclear technology, and evolutionary and innovative reactors are no exception," said Lydie Evrard IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.
Evolutionary designs improve on existing designs through small or moderate modifications, while maintaining proven features to minimize technological risk. Innovative designs incorporate bigger changes in the use of materials, fuels, operating environments and systems configurations. The safety approach to both will be reviewed at the conference.
The conference will cover the following main topics:
- Applying safety approaches and standards for evolutionary and innovative reactor technologies
- Enhancing safety by innovative design features
- Supporting integrated decision making through safety/risk analyses
- Accelerating innovations for safety assessment through the advanced simulation and modelling, and experimental programmes
There is a wide spectrum of activities that countries and the IAEA are currently implementing relating to the safety of evolutionary and innovative reactors, which are not only covering safety related challenges and experiences but also the potential interfaces between safety, security and safeguards considerations.
"Using this unique time window, when the innovative technologies and designs are at the development stage, is a vital opportunity to streamline the safety approaches and ensure by design the synergy between safety-security and safeguards," Evrard said.
The conference aims to facilitate the open exchange of information on widespread aspects of evolutionary and innovative reactor designs in order to create a deeper understanding and harmonise safety approaches and practices, as well as further enhance the licensing strategies for these reactors.
Nuclear safety professionals from regulatory bodies, designers, operating organizations, technical support and research organizations as well as consultants who are engaged in activities related to the safety of evolutionary and innovative reactor designs are encouraged to submit abstracts.
Those wishing to present a paper or poster at the conference must submit an abstract in electronic format using the conference's web-based file submission system (IAEA-INDICO)
