Severe accident containment loads and possible design concepts of future large pressurized water reactors

The risk of present-day light water reactors is dominated by the consequences of core melt accidents followed by a failure of the outer containment. Although such events would have very low frequencies of occurrence, their risk cannot be neglected in the future. Therefore, specifications for mechanical loads and heat loads to the containment are analyzed, and design modifications are proposed, explaining how the containment can withstand the consequences of core melts. As a result, the radiological impact outside of the containment will be drastically decreased. Evacuation of the population outside of the reactor plant will no longer be necessary in the case of a core melt.