SAFETY & SECURITY | FLOOD PROTECTION
Protection from tsunamis and flooding
As climate change and tsunami change the flooding risk profile for the world’s nuclear power plants, new passive measures beyond simple walls are required to ensure flood protection for critical plant systems
By Jens Wieneke, Head of Engineering, INNOMECOM AG
THE PROTECTION OF NUCLEAR POWER plants against the effects of tsunamis and severe flooding is of critical safety importance, particularly in view of the potentially catastrophic effects of such events. A sensible strategy to increase the safety of nuclear power plants is the diversification of protection devices. By combining different protective measures potential vulnerabilities of individual systems can be minimised and the overall safety of the power plant can be increased. In some cases, this approach is already being implemented by reinforcing or supplementing existing structural measures, for example by building higher or more robust flood protection walls designed to withstand extreme flood waves. Another option is the installation of special flood protection doors or barriers at critical locations within the power plant site. In addition, advanced monitoring and early warning systems could be implemented to respond to potential threats in time or to take appropriate measures in advance.
Alternatively, additional protective devices may be
installed that act independently of the existing flood protection walls. These additional protective devices could serve as a supplementary safety measure and improve the overall resistance of the nuclear power plant to the effects of tsunamis and severe flooding.
Flood risk for nuclear The threat to nuclear power plants from the effects flooding is a highly relevant issue. There are currently 74 reactors at 23 nuclear power plant sites worldwide that could potentially be affected by tsunamis and this trend is rising as the construction of new reactors gathers pace in various parts of the world. Beyond tsunamis, the effects of climate change must also be taken into account, particularly with regard to flooding and storm surge events. Rising sea levels and the increase in extreme weather events increases the risk of flooding which could also potentially endanger nuclear power plants. In addition, global political instability
Above: Dozens of reactors worldwide are at risk of tsunami Photo credit: Fly_and_Dive/
Shutterstock.com 38 | June 2024 |
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