Advances in the investigation and risk assessment of cold source blockages in nuclear power plants in China

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design 2024-04, Vol.420, p.112998, Article 112998
• Main Authors: Yunpeng, Song, Xiaofeng, Xing, Cankun, Lin, Minsi, Xiong, Xianjuan, Zhang, Zhenglou, Zhang, Shuang, Wu, Shengmao, Zhang, Yongchuang, Shi, Zuli, Wu, Yumei, Wu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.112998

In recent years, the issue of cold source blockages in Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) has gained prominence due to its potential to induce disasters, posing economic losses and safety hazards. Despite extensive research, challenges persist in effectively monitoring, providing early warnings, and assessing the risks of cold source blockages in NPPs. This article consolidates existing literature on the investigation and risk assessment of cold source blockages, categorizing types, outlining attributes, and evaluating risk assessment systems. The findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive monitoring and early warning system, advocating for the integration of various methods into a multi-modal network. This approach serves as a blueprint for an inclusive platform, fostering collaborative observation and technological synergy to enhance monitoring, early warning, and risk assessment systems. In a case study at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to establish a cold source assessment system for marine organisms, resulting in the identification of highly risky organisms—Ulva lactuca, Sargassum horueri, Rhopilema esculentum, and Nemopilema nomurai. This aligns with historical instances, validating the rationality of the AHP-based cold source assessment system.