Research and development program for prestressed cast iron pressure vessels PCIV for high temperature reactors

The Materials Testing Institute of the state of Northrhine-Westpfalia (MPA-Dortmund) is in charge of the materials testing program. Before the R and D program could be started at the end of 1975 preliminary work in the PCIV field had been done by Siempelkamp. This included: 1969-71. Design and construction of a PCIV model at a scale of 1:7.5 with respect to the PCIV of the THTR. 1972-73. Erection of the model and pressure tests up to 90 atm. (2.3-times the operating pressure of the THTR). 1973-74. Based on designs by Siempelkamp for the PCIV, the Battelle-Institute in Frankfurt performed two feasibility studies orderded by the Ministry for Economics and Transportation of the state of Northrhine-Westphalia. The results of both were positive. 1975. Order for a first 'conventional PCIV' as helium storage tank for the THTR; service pressure 230 bar. The Ministry for Economics and Transportation starts to support the development of a PCIV. The objects of the R and D program are: fully worked out construction plans; demonstration of the decisive economic advantages of this new type of vessel; plans designed to meet the requirements of licenzing authorities; a preliminary safety report. The development program has been subdivided into three phases. During phase I at least 4 vessel geometries, e.g. cylindrical cavern with 2 diameters, pod boiler, and satellite type will be analysed. The object of phase I is to select the most advantageous type of vessel and to determine the data for phase II. Phase I will end in March of 1977. The object of phase II is to produce detailed construction plans and analyses as well as to provide the basis for phase III. The duration of phase II is set at 15 months and it will end in May of 1978. Phase III comprises the detailed construction and tests of a model with scale of 1:3 or 1:5 and the writting of a safety report