CURRENT RE-DESIGNS OF CALDER HALL

Technical Report · Sat Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1959

OSTI ID:4282995

Cunningham, J B.W.; Disney, H V

The first re-design of the Calder Hall reactors was carried out by industrial firms in Britain for U.K. electricity authorities. The U.K. Atomic Energy Authority collaborated with the electricity authorities in writing the specification for these stations and in assessing the designs. The method adopted for carrying out the assessment is described. It involved a detailed consideration of each design from a number of different aspects, namely: performance, safety, fuel elements, pressure circuit, control and instrumentation, graphite structure, burst cartridge detection, and civil engineering. This re-design; and later ones now current, led to a very great advance in performance and economy over Calder Hall. The various factors responsible for the improvement are discussed, including increases in the diameter and working pressure, and improved internal geometry of the main pressure vessel; increased rating and temperature of the fuel and new heat transfer surfaces for the fuel elements. Modifications to the design which have arisen from consideration of postulated fault conditions, aud the development of major components such as main gas valves and bellows are considered. Work is reported on the leak tightness of the Calder Hall pressure circuit and on the principles of design to be applied to simliar circuits. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic energy Authority, Risley, Lancs, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-13-007205
• OSTI ID: 4282995
• Report Number(s): A/CONF.15/P/73
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CALDER HALL
CANNING
CARBON DIOXIDE
CONFIGURATION
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLANT LOOPS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
FAILURES
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
GRAPHITE
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTRUMENTS
LEAK DETECTORS
LEAKS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MONITORING
PERFORMANCE
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
PRESSURE VESSELS
RADIATION PROTECTION
REACTOR CORE
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
VALVES