Neuere entwicklungen in der sicherheitsforschung und sicherheitstechnik

Reactor safety research has always been continuously adapted to engineered safeguards requirements. For the past few years, accident scenarios have been under discussion in which the melt from the reactor pressure vessel is assumed to reach the concrete foundation of the plant and release their gases, as a result of thermal and chemical interactions, which could lead to a pressure build-up and, finally, to overpressure failure of the containment after three to five days. All nuclear power plants equipped with water cooled reactors in the Feeral Republic of Germany are therefore being fitted devices permitting controlled venting of the containment within a matter of days.