Overview of filtered containment venting system in Nuclear Power Plants in Asia

Abstract

In this paper, we extensively review the status and projection of the Filtered Containment Venting Systems (FCVSs) in the Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) in Asia. As an important strategy to mitigate the Severe Accidents (SAs) in NPPs, FCVS is designed to prevent the containment overpressure failure by providing containment venting through a filtration system. The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident brought a negative impact to the public faith on the nuclear safety, the accident has led regulatory authorities and policy makers to re-evaluate safety criteria and reinforce safety supervision. As a result, the mitigation of SAs regains attention of nuclear community. Many investigation and research works were initialized or resumed, particularly about the enhancement of FCVS on robustness and filtration efficiency.Presently, Asia is a region where nuclear energy grow fast. To ensure nuclear safety, the FCVS is being taken into account in the SA mitigation strategy by regulatory authorities. Chinese nuclear safety administration requires NPPs to have adequate and reliable containment venting system. Thus FCVS is either equipped or about to be equipped on most reactors operating or under construction in China. Nuclear companies and research institutions are conducting research and engineering works about FCVS design and function. In South Korea, a government funded project was carried out during 2013–2017, aimed to design a domestic FCVS technology. Confirmatory tests have been performed to evaluate the function of designed FCVS. In Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company started installing FCVS on the NPPs since 2013. Related research work is performing in Japanese universities and institutions. Taiwan’s Atomic Energy Council also requests utility companies to reexamine the present emergency operation procedures and study the strategies such as the addition of required facilities for SA prevention and mitigation in each NPP. It is noticed that India is also investigating the options to mitigate the SAs, including FCVS.