Design Basis Model for Hosting Small Modular Reactors

Nuclear Energy;Design Basis;Model-Based Systems Engineering;Nuclear Reactor Infrastructure

To provide energy security and head off further increases in global temperatures, an aggressive transition from fossil fuels to other types of energy implies the need to construct hundreds of nuclear power plants in the near future. However, the real and perceived risks of nuclear energy remain a significant impediment to this transition.

This paper describes a comprehensive work process that combines the rigor of model-based systems engineering (MBSE) with 1) the Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) decades of experience with small reactors and with 2) modern project delivery processes. The objective is to reduce the risks of building new facilities or converting existing facilities to nuclear power generation.