Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 8
Risk of LWRs
Abstract
Chapter 8 compares the risk of LWRs as determined in the US-risk study
WASH-1400 with the risk of other technical systems, e.g. air plane crashes, fires,
dam failures, explosions and chlorine releases in chemical industry. It is shown
that the risk, e.g. of 100 nuclear power plants in the USA is smaller than the risk of
these other technical systems. Natural disasters, e.g. hurricanes, floods including
tsunamis, earthquakes, avalanches and landslides or volcanic eruptions have a
higher frequency of occurrence per year and a much higher number of casualties
i.e. their risk—the product of frequencies and casualties—is much higher than that
of technical systems including nuclear power plants.
8.1 Comparison of the Risk of LWRs with the Risks
of Other Technical Systems
The findings about the risk of LWRs as determined in the Rasmussen Risk Study
(WASH-1400) [
1
] and the German Risk Study Phase A [
2
] were compared to the
risks associated with other technical systems. Data from the experience of insurance
companies for major accidents in coal mining, on oil platforms, tanker accidents in
oil and gas transport, large fires in refineries, gas explosions, and risk studies for
large chemical plants in England (Canvey Island) and France were used [
3
-
9
].
Figure
8.1
shows the number of deaths fatalities in major accidents as a function
of the frequency of occurrence for dam failures, chlorine releases (chemical indus-
try), explosions and fires as well as airplane crashes. The frequency of occurrence of
major accidents in power generation by nuclear plants (early fatalities and late
fatalities for 100 nuclear power plants in the USA) is seen to be below or in the
vicinity of the figures for other systems of energy generation and for the chemical
industry, respectively [
1
].
