Optimization Analysis of Physical Protection Design for Small Offshore Reactors

High economic efficiency is one of the important characteristics of small modular reactors (referred to as SMRs). Building a physical protection system for SMRs according to the current nuclear power plant physical protection system will have a negative impact on its economic efficiency. This article takes small offshore reactors as the analysis object, explores optimization schemes to reduce the cost of physical protection systems, and conducts two rounds of optimization and calculation demonstration for the schemes. Through analysis, although the physical barrier with high cost and on-site armed response forces have been eliminated for small offshore reactors, the effectiveness of the system can still be ensured by increasing the delay time of cabin passages. In the design of physical protection for SMRs, optimization should be carried out based on the characteristics of the reactor type, and a more cost-effective physical protection scheme should be selected while ensuring system effectiveness.