Feasibility study on double pool LMFBR

To evaluate the technical feasibility of Double Pool type LMFBR with a high potential of considerable capital cost reduction, the Joint Study between Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) and Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is now in progress. The major emphasis of this collaborative effort is placed primarily on the following issues incidental to this innovative reactor concept: (1) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF PRIMARY VESSEL which is possibly exposed to severe thermal transients both from the inside and outside. (2) INTEGRITY OF RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTIONAL IHX AND STEAM GENERATOR with a potential of a reduced vessel diameter, but with a structural uncertainly due to their specific configurations. (3) EVALUATION ON SODIUM/WATER REACTION whose major uncertainty stems from the specific nature of steam generators location in the vicinity of the primary system. (4) SEISMIC EVALUATION ON REACTOR STRUCTURES which may be heavier than conventional reactors because of the concentration of sodium systems. (5) EVALUATION ON REACTOR CONFINING SYSTEM applicable to, and optimized for the Double Pool concept. In addition, included is the applicability study of FLOW COUPLER which can be considered an alternative for the reference inducer-type mechanical pump. As a result, it has been found, based on the interim results to date, that there exists no concerns that affect the technical feasibility of this reactor concept. (author)