Special Seminar: Safer Reactors Emerge from Better Probabilistic Simulations - Department of Nuclear Engineering Special Seminar: Safer Reactors Emerge from Better Probabilistic Simulations - Department of Nuclear Engineering

Loading Events
All Events
  • This event has passed.

Special Seminar: Safer Reactors Emerge from Better Probabilistic Simulations

April 17, 2019 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Event Navigation

Dr. Mihai A. Diaconeasa
Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Samueli School of Engineering
Research Staff, The B. John Garrick Institute for the Risk Sciences (GIRS)
University of California, Los Angeles

Abstract

Dynamic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) refers to an emerging class of simulation-based PRA techniques that generate risk scenarios through the model-based computer simulation of nuclear power plants and their operators’ response to accident initiators. The latest advancements to the simulation-based PRA approach deliver the essential capabilities to make it a major breakthrough in accident prevention and management. Dynamic PRA offers several advantages over the conventional approaches currently used by many industries worldwide.

In this talk, the general principles of probabilistic risk assessment will be introduced in the context of nuclear plant risk. The strengths and limitations of our current risk assessment capability will be highlighted to provide the motivation for introducing a dynamic PRA platform that fills some of the analytical gaps. These gaps include time-dependent prediction and quantification of the operator error-forcing contexts, better representation of the deterministic success criteria, and considerable reduction in analyst-to-analyst variability of the results. While not yet tested in an industrial setting, there is considerable evidence that both the nuclear regulators and the licensees are ready to embrace the dynamic PRA concepts.

Biography

Dr. Mihai Diaconeasa is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at UCLA. He obtained his B.Sc. degree from University College Utrecht (UCU), the international undergraduate honors college of Utrecht University, the Netherlands, his M.S. degree in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT, and his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA.

 

He is currently working on developing a new hybrid static-dynamic probabilistic risk assessment software platform for nuclear power plants. Concurrently, he leads the development of the Hybrid Causal Logic Analyzer system risk and reliability software used to assess the commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts usage in Space Systems for extended deep space missions at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Phoenix human reliability analysis methodology and software for Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA). He participates in the institute’s collaborations with Southern Company and TerraPower on developing a regulatory compliance strategy for a new advanced reactor; and with Pacific Gas and Electric Company on probabilistic risk assessment projects covering their nuclear, electric power transmission, and enterprise assets. Moreover, he is involved in the joint ATanalytics and GIRS collaboration on developing a methodology and software platform for assessing the resilience of autonomous systems for space exploration in NASA’s SBIR program.

 

Wednesday, April 17. 2019
3:45 pm refreshments; 4:00 pm seminar
Room 1202 Burlington Labs

***This seminar will be streamed live on our NCStateNuclear YouTube channel***

 

 

Details

Date:
April 17, 2019
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Categories:
,

Venue

1202 Burlington Labs
2500 Stinson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695-7909 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
919.515.2301