Review on development status of comprehensive prevention and control technology for disaster-causing floating bodies at water intake of nuclear power plants

• Published in: Annals of nuclear energy 2025-03, Vol.212, Article 111087
• Main Authors: Zheng, Yingying, Zhang, Rongyong, Long, Yun, Jiang, Xinshu, Zhu, Rongsheng, Xing, Ji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cold source system; Nuclear power plant; Offshore monitoring and early warning; Water intake safety
• ISSN: 0306-4549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2024.111087

•We find that shortcomings in the water intake, including an inadequate design basis for water intake open channels and sewage interception networks, as well as deficiencies in marine organisms early warning and monitoring equipment and layout. The sea ice also represents a novel challenge confronting the nuclear power industry in coastal regions situated at high latitudes.•We can set the encircled cofferdam to achieve active guidance and avoidance, joint wave forecasting to achieve risk investigation and three-dimensional monitoring of sea ice at sea, land and sky to improve the performance of the water intake system.•We propose to install water jet pumps in the open channel dredging system to meet requirements for efficient and reliable long-term operation of nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy, classified as a clean energy source, enjoys extensive application in numerous countries worldwide. In recent years, the growth rate of marine organisms has accelerated, resulting in the formation of large aggregations of marine organisms and other large congregations that have the potential to obstruct the cold source water intake system of nuclear power plants. The safety situation about the cold source is of significant concern. This paper presents a summary of water intake safety events at nuclear power plants around the world in recent years. It also analyzes the current status of comprehensive prevention and control technology for disaster-causing floating bodies at nuclear power plants’ water intakes. The analysis is based on the latest developments in global nuclear power technology. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements in fine offshore monitoring and early warning systems, passive interception techniques for open channel dredging, the evolution of active defense measures, the development of composite water intake open channel structures, bubble curtain interception methods, cutting and grinding techniques, and the subsequent transportation of marine organisms. Nevertheless, shortcomings remain in the water intake safety of nuclear power plants. These include an inadequate design basis for water intake open channels and sewage interception networks, as well as deficiencies in marine organism early warning and monitoring equipment and layout. Furthermore, the issue of sea ice represents a novel challenge confronting the nuclear power industry in coastal regions situated at high latitudes. Therefore, it is essential to undertake