Safety activities in JAERI related to ITER

Abstract

Safety design approach, design codes and safety-related technology development for construction of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) initiated in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) has been reviewed. Safety design approach and implementation are focused on inherent and high-level passive safety features of the ITER-FEAT. By such features, escalation of abnormal condition to accident can be prevented without any special countermeasures such as emergency plasma shutdown system. As a result, the primary containment system and the secondary confinement one are proposed to achieve the ITER safety objectives. To establish the structural design codes for unique ITER components, an ad-hoc technical committee has been organized. The designs of the vacuum vessel and tritium process components have been reviewed and discussed. Recommendations including some attractive methodologies for structural design and components examinations, taking into account a low level of hazard potential and unique safety features of ITER was given by the committee. Another ad-hoc technical committee under JAERI Construction Division is discussing the design codes for ITER seismic isolation. The current status of R&D activities ongoing in JAERI for accumulation of experimental data required for assurance of the safety analysis and design codes for ITER are also reviewed.