Study of Application of shipstructure to nuclear buildings

To achieve economic improvement for nuclear power plants, it is needed to shorten the plant construction period. Also, it is needed to reduce on-site work because of the lack of laborer in future in Japan. A new construction method that applies shipbuilding technology may be possible to resolve both the issues. This paper provides an overview of new building structure concept, which applies the hull structure of a ship to floors and walls of a nuclear reactor building. Since the hull structure is manufactured at a shipyard, building modules that incorporate plant equipment become possible. If a whole reactor building is divided into 40 modules, about 9 months reduction of the construction period and about 20% of the building cost are expected compared with a conventional reactor building. The application of the hull structure, which can make large modules at a shipyard, is an effective solution to the lack of laborer in future in Japan. Another possibility contained in this concept is the construction of a floating power plant, which is an effective way to siting expansion. (author)