Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

The peer-reviewed scientific and technology journal. ISSN: 0204-3327

Approach to Optimizing the Time of Initiation of Measures to Protect the Population in the Event of Accidents at Nuclear Power Plants

6/30/2025 2025 - #02 Global safety, reliability and diagnostics of nuclear power installations

Lyubarskiy A.V. Mikhalev A.V. Tokmachev G.V.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.2.02

UDC: 621.039.58

The article proposes an approach based on the optimization of time for making a decision on organizing measures to protect the population (evacuation) in case of accidents at NPPs. The existing concept of evacuation followed by an accident at a NPP, which is based on the dose values measured on the site of the NPP and beyond, is discussed. It is shown that maintaining the established practice of determining the moment to start implementing measures to protect the population is not optimal for power units of Generation III+. The time required to evacuate the population is one of the most significant parameters in determining the optimal time to start implementing measures to protect the population. The article provides approximate coefficients by which this time value can be multiplied for a simplified conservative reassessment. A possible clarification of the evacuation concept for WWER-1200 is discussed. The main aspect of clarifying the evacuation concept is to determine the optimal moment to start evacuation for an accident scenario in which radioactive elements may release beyond the containment. It is shown that in order to determine the optimal moment to start evacuation, a number of factors should be taken into account that directly or indirectly affect the need to make a decision to start evacuation. An approach to determining the moment of evacuation start for WWER-1200 NPPs within the framework of the existing concept is presented. An approach to determining the optimal time for initiating measures to protect the population for WWER-1200 NPPs is characterized. Approaches to assessing a number of parameters required to implement the proposed concept are considered.

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nuclear power plant accident population protection evacuation start required time optimization

Link for citing the article: Lyubarskiy A.V., Mikhalev A.V., Tokmachev G.V. Approach to Optimizing the Time of Initiation of Measures to Protect the Population in the Event of Accidents at Nuclear Power Plants. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 2, pp. 18-32; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.2.02 (in Russian).

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