Experimental validation of the cooling loop for a passive system for removing heat from the AES-2006 protective envelope design for the Leningradskaya nuclear power plant site

Abstract

Equipping new-generation nuclear power plants with passive means for controlling unanticipated accidents is one of the most promising directions for increasing safety, which is being implemented in the AES-2006 design for the site of the Leningradskaya nuclear power plant. An urgent problem is to obtain experimental validation of the passive system for removing heat from the protective envelope during unanticipated accidents with loss of coolant from the first loop in the case where the active systems fail. A particularity of the system is its state of constant readiness. The system functions with natural circulation of the coolant in both loops. Considering the importance of the passive heat removal system for ensuring the localizing properties of the protective envelope, OKBM Afrikantov has developed a large-scale stand and performed experimental investigations on validation of the effectiveness and serviceability of the cooling loop of a passive system for removing heat from the protective envelope.