Managing multi-hazard risks hindering smr deployment in the Canadian North

小型模块反应堆被认为是一个关键的优先事项，可以满足加拿大的特殊需要，特别是对于自然资源丰富但人口密度低的北方。除了为偏远地区的重工业（如采矿和资源开采）提供可靠的电力，帮助当地经济发展外，加拿大还重新致力于为200多个偏远的北方社区提供电力，作为其清洁能源转型的一部分。加拿大政府的SMR行动计划和几个省政府的小型模块化反应堆部署战略计划强调了SMR如何提供安全，可靠和零排放的能源，为我们不断增长的经济和人口提供动力，并创造新的机会，将加拿大的知识和专业知识出口到世界各地。 由于其占地面积较小，SMR可以容纳在紧凑的安全壳结构中，在屏蔽较少的情况下安全运行，并且可以位于不适合大型核电厂的位置。这些特点使得能够更灵活地部署SMR（包括偏远的加拿大北部），但也面临着新的挑战和潜在的知识差距，需要解决SMR的部署和安全运行问题。该研究侧重于三个已确定存在知识差距的领域：（1）深埋SMR的多危害风险分析，以制定基于风险的SMR部署指导地图;（2）考虑季节性温度变化和气候变化影响的永久冻土区掩埋SMR的安全性;以及（3）安全可靠的SMR运行和长期核废料储存的放射性核素运输监测。将特别关注SMR与永久冻土的相互作用，以及放射性核素在永久冻土中的迁移，同时考虑到系统中的热-水-机械耦合。调查结果和开发的工具对于支持监管决策和提高监管SMRs的能力至关重要，特别是对于在加拿大北部部署SMRs。

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are considered a key priority that can meet special needs of Canada, particularly for the North that is rich in natural resources but low in population density. In addition to providing reliable power for remote heavy industry (such as mining and resource extraction) aiding local economic developments, Canada has also recommitted its focus on empowering over 200 remote northern communities as part of its clean energy transition. The Canadian government's SMR Action Plan and the several provincial government's Strategic Plan for the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors highlight how SMRs can provide safe, reliable and zero-emissions energy to power our growing economy and population as well as create new opportunities to export Canadian knowledge and expertise around the world. Owing to their smaller footprint, SMRs can be housed in compact containment structures, operate safely with less shielding, and can be sited on locations not suitable for larger nuclear power plants. These features allow more flexible deployment of SMRs (including remote Canadian North), but also face new challenges and potential knowledge gaps that need to be addressed for the deployment and safe operation of SMRs. This research focuses on three areas with identified knowledge gaps: (1) multi-hazard risk analysis of deeply buried SMRs to develop risk-based resilience-guided maps for SMR deployment; (2) safety of buried SMRs in permafrost regions considering the impact of seasonal temperature variation and climate change; and (3) radionuclide transport monitoring for safe and secure SMR operation and long-term nuclear waste storage. Special attention will be placed on the interaction of SMRs with permafrost, as well as the migration of radionuclide in permafrost, by taking into account the thermal-hydro-mechanical coupling in the systems. The finding and developed tools are crucial to support regulatory decision-making and increase capacity to regulate SMRs, particularly for the deployment of SMRs in Canadian North.