Evening Lecture – Doel 3 and Tihange 2: A robust safety case made in Belgium

In the summer of 2012, inspections of the reactor vessels of Doel 3 and Tihange 2 nuclear power stations revealed the presence of indications that required in-depth analyses.
Electrabel carried out a thorough investigation in response to the indications found in the two reactor vessels. These investigations confirmed that the indications correspond to hydrogen flakes formed during manufacturing. The results of the subsequent tests and analyses confirmed the structural integrity of the reactor vessels in question.
In May 2013, the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) approved the restart of Doel 3 and Tihange 2 subject to further tests in order to confirm the behavior of the reactor vessel materials under irradiation. Unexpected results led to the shutdown of the 2 reactors from March 2014 until November 2015 following the green light of the FANC. This restart was the result of an elaborate process during which the safety demonstration was thoroughly reviewed.
Starting from the Safety Cases published on FANC Website, Mr. Jean Van Vyve will demonstrate the robustness of the safety demonstration, by detailing the integrated scientific basis, and the conservativeness and the margins the Belgian project team has included, fully justifying the safe operation of the 2 units.