Inherent design features of the GCFR
This paper discusses several inherent design features of the GCFR that enhance its safety and presents analyses to demonstrate the degree of protection they provide. These features are a subset of a larger group of potential inherent features that form the third line of protection (LOP-3) for the GCFR. The function of LOP-3 is to demonstrate that the inherent response of the reactor system will limit core damage even if active cooling and shutdown systems in LOP-1 and LOP-2 fail. By providing this function with inherent features, which do not depend on active components and are self-controlling, an additional level of protection against common cause failure mechanisms is provided for both protected and unprotected events. The examples of LOP-3 discussed in this paper are natural circulation core cooling to the ultimate atmospheric heat sink and inherent reactor shutdown mechanisms.
- Research Organization:
- General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT03-76SF71023
- OSTI ID:
- 5106740
- Report Number(s):
- GA-A-15912; CONF-800648-14; TRN: 80-016756
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: GCFRP program technical review meeting, San Diego, CA, USA, 4 Jun 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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