Development and project application of advanced light water reactor

The development of advanced boiling water reactors was completed in 1985. It is positioned as the third light water reactor improvement and standardization plant of Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and at present, it is at the stage of the detailed design of the actual project. The ABWRs are those in which the operability, safety and economical efficiency as the general characteristics of a plant were heightened further by the heightening of plant performance, the simplification of systems and the construction of compact buildings. In particular, internal pumps brought about the improvement of operability and safety of plants together with the characteristics of improved control rod driving mechanism, in addition to simplifying and compacting reactor systems. The reinforced concrete reactor containment vessel which is constructed as one body with the building has the compact structure and strength which can sufficiently withstand hypothetical accidents, and contributes to the safety. The test on these improved technologies for the practical use was completed, and it was shown that the expected objective can be attained. The ABWRs are adopted as No. 6 and No.7 plants in Kashiwazaki Kariha Nuclear Power Station, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (K.I.)