Significant structural design features of commercial-sized liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) plants

Abstract

From a structural design point of view, there are many significant differences between liquid-metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) plants and light water reactor (LWR) plants especially in the containment area, and the area containing the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS). This paper highlights the structural design features of a commercial-sized LMFBR plant. While the external loads are the same, the internal loads, due to characteristic differences in the LMFBR and LWR NSSS systems, have significant structural implications. Primarily, they lead to the low pressures and elevated temperatures in the LMFBRs in contrast to the high pressures and lower temperatures in the LWRs. Also, there are differences in the design basis accident scenarios. These and other differences are addressed.