GHR 10 MW: the technical concept of the gas cooled heating reactor

The GHR is a simple, safe and economic heating reactor that is designed on the basis of the proven technology of the Gas-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor. In the HRB/BBC design of the GHR the basic proven HTR components are: the spherical HTR fuel elements containing coated particles for an extremely favourable fission product retension; the primary circuit with helium coolant and ceramic core structures integrated into a prestressed concrete reactor vessel using the liner as the main heat exchanger. The main benefits are derived directly from the favourable technical and safety related HTR-characteristics. These are: low radiation exposure; high inherent safety, even in the event of hypothetical accidents. Even in the hypothetical case of a depressurization accident with the total loss of active cooling the core temperature will remain below 800 degrees C. The corresponding equivalent whole body dose will be lower than 10 mrem. Due to these favourable safety characteristics, GHR plants can be sited near urban centers without any risk to the population. (author)