Improvement of the uncertainty method with model treatment and optimized global sensitivity analysis and its application to pressurized water reactor

Best estimate plus uncertainty methodology is an advanced technology for licensing application of the nuclear power plants, but some aspects can still be improved in the conventional input-driven methodologies. For instance, uncertainties of the closure models are not properly handled; local sensitivity analysis methods not suitable for complex nuclear systems are still widely utilized; the sensitivity analysis process needs to be performed again every time new parameters are identified. Optimization researches were carried out in the study. A structural method was proposed to quantify the uncertainties of the closure models, and a low-cost moment-independent global sensitivity analysis method was developed to improve the sensitivity analysis framework. By integrating the improvements into the conventional input-driven framework, an uncertainty method with model treatment and improved sensitivity analysis was obtained. Finally, the method was validated through a large break loss of coolant accident in a three-loop pressurized water reactor. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.