External Events in the Design of Nuclear Power Plants - Elements for Comparison with Other Energy Production Infrastructures

The paper provides some basic elements of the design methodology applied to the nuclear installations, highlighting the areas where a comparison with other generation technologies raises some concerns on the different requirements impsoed. Some new scenarios are under scrutiny by the engineering community which suggest a thorough review of the engineering practice in the nuclear design, a better definition of the safety reaquirements, also in comparison with other technologies and a strong emphasis on the new nuclear porjects. Tjhis paproach, preliminary tyo any comparison with other technologies, may make the comparison itself more realistic and less trivial. A minimum cost analysis is also provided in relation to the engineering features developoed in relation to the external hazard, which still appears to be the most relevant source of hazard in a nuclear installation.JRC.F.4-Nuclear design safet