Safety and Accident Modelling
In support of the assessment and evaluation of submarine and other nuclear safety justifications Serco deploys a unique skill base that covers the deterministic predictions of the nuclear plant's design basis accidents (DBAs) using the RELAP and TRACE codes, and the beyond design basis accident (BDBA) behaviour using the international severe accident code MELCOR. Other specific plant performance with respect to containment and fission product behaviour within the primary circuit can also be determined.
The risks posed by the nuclear plant to the local community and site workers can be determined by a combination of expertise in dispersion modelling and probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). The latter expertise is supported by high levels of competence in PSA codes such as Fault Tree+ and Risk Spectrum. PSA also has a significant role in evaluating, interpreting and comparing plant risks for all accidents against safety criteria.
Other plant evaluations are completed to determine the plant's response to fire scenarios, as fire is a significant contributor to risk.