Following design features are considered for reactors designs such as Small Modular  Reactor (SMRs).

 

i. Extensive use of passive safety systems and greater autonomy (to provide higher time  margins for operator intervention in case of emergencies). Also, fail safe features are  incorporated in designs of all safety-critical systems/components in which functional  failures of components will bring the system to safe condition.  

ii. Rigorous procedure are set for design, development and operation of the systems used in its installations. The safety and security critical systems are designed and developed in-house using custom built hardware and software which are subjected to  regulatory verification and validation, thereby making them resistant to cyber security  threats.

 

iii. Isolation of safety and security critical infrastructure of nuclear establishments, from Internet and the local network.

Department of Atomic Energy has a specialist group called Computer and Information Security Advisory Group (CISAG), to look after cyber security/information security of DAE units. This group undertakes the process of strengthening cyber security of all units under DAE including nuclear facilities through hardening of systems and audits.

Designers and developers of nuclear reactors use peer-reviewed / regulator-approved multi-physics computer codes, which have coupling of physics, thermal-hydraulics, structural mechanics etc., to perform design optimization and safety analysis. For the upcoming advanced reactors, specific/custom-made computer codes have been developed in-house for carrying out safety analysis. Well-known and accepted numerical techniques applicable for computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations  are being employed to study complex fluid flow problems as applicable. Codes developed in-house are subjected to extensive validation by the use of experimental data gathered from prototypes/analogous systems to ensure requisite accuracy.

This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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NKR/PSM

(Release ID: 2153542)