Improvement suggestions for CPR1000 reactor pressure vessel structure

CPR1000 reactor has been widely used as a mature technology, however the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is still possible to be improved from the point of structure principle, manufacture technology and better running properties. Three optimized methods of RPV structure have been discussed in this article. First, stainless steel material is used entirely for external seal ledge to avoid corrosion in the boric water environment; Second, the welding structure of vessel nozzles is changed form Set-In type to Set-On type, then the nozzles can be welded using an automated process to the nozzle shell, welding properties can be improved, and the workload of welding can be reduced; The third, the vessel supporting structure is advanced by using shafting structure to economize manufacture time. (authors)