UI Researcher Develops Method to Strengthen Nuclear Reactor Safety

Depok (ANTARA) - Dr Ratih Luhuring Tyas of the Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia (FTUI), has successfully developed a more comprehensive safety analysis method for nuclear reactors. The innovation was presented in her dissertation titled ‘Development of an Initiating Event (IE) Identification Method for Nuclear Power Plant (PLTN) Safety Analysis’, which introduced a method called ILDFM (Integrated Logic Deviation Failure Method). FTUI Dean Kemas M. Ridwan Kurniawan expressed high appreciation for this scientific contribution. ‘This research makes an important contribution to the development of nuclear safety analysis methods, particularly in the aspect of risk identification from the early stages of reactor system design and operation,’ he said. The presence of the ILDFM method demonstrates that research at FTUI is not only academically robust but also relevant to strategic technological needs and the improvement of safety standards. Unlike conventional approaches that generally focus only on technical machine problems, the ILDFM method combines three important elements: system logic analysis, operational deviations, and potential equipment failure. Through this combination, ILDFM is able to map more risk scenarios, including anticipating human error factors and internal hazards such as fires. This comprehensive approach aligns with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The reliability of this method has been tested using international reference reactor data (HTR-10) and applied to the national PeLUIt-40 reactor design, which is based on High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) technology. Test results prove that ILDFM can identify risks more broadly, thus providing a stronger basis for reactor safety. For the general public, the issue of nuclear energy often raises concerns, particularly regarding the risk of leaks or fatal accidents. This is where Dr Ratih’s findings become crucial, as the ILDFM method serves as a ‘layered protection system’ ensuring that future nuclear power plants are designed without safety gaps, whether from technological malfunctions or human error. By detecting and preventing accident risks from the initial design stage, this method represents a concrete effort to provide real security guarantees to the public. In the long term, society can enjoy a supply of clean, cheap, and efficient electricity without having to worry about the safety of lives and the environment.