Nature and Scope of the project

SARNET tackles the fragmentation that exists between the different R&D national programmes, notably in defining common research programmes and developing common computer tools and methodologies for safety assessment. SARNET comprises most of the actors involved in SA research in Europe. A few organizations are covering a wide range of competences though not complete, whereas others are specialized in very specific areas and thus complementarities are developing. The critical mass of competence for performing experiments needed in the SA domain, analysing them, developing models and integrating them into ASTEC (integral computer code used to predict the NPP behaviour during a postulated SA) is achieved for most types of NPPs in Europe. ASTEC is released free of charge by IRSN-GRS to all partners for validation. 

 

ASTEC

ASTEC allows the numerical simulation of phenomena that could occur in a nuclear reactor in case of severe accidents. It is used to analyse the safety of nuclear reactors and to define actions that prevent or mitigate the consequences of such accidents and improve protection of population in case of accident. This integral code is commonly developed by IRSN and GRS, with the support of most of the organizations involved in SARNET.