The 450 MW(t) MHTGR: More power with the same high level of safety

Conference · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5341748

Silady, F A ^[1]; Gotschall, H ^[2]

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1. General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
2. Gas-Cooled Reactor Associates, San Diego, CA (United States)

Increased power was identified as the single most important design change to improve economics in a Cost Reduction Study on the Modular High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR). The chief constraint of the study was that the MHTGR's high level of safety, which relies on inherent characteristics and passive features, must be maintained. As a result of the study, a recommendation was made to increase the reactor module power from 350 to 450 MW(t). The higher power level was made possible by (1) increasing the reactor vessel diameter to allow a larger annular core, (2) specifying a more accurate, lower value of decay heat as a percentage of rated power, and (3) replacing Thorium in the fertile fuel particle with natural Uranium to further lower decay heat. It was found that peak fuel temperatures are lowered during events in which both forced core cooling and helium inventory are lost. Results of the safety assessment for the 450 MW(t) design are discussed. It is shown that the MHTGR's plant economics are significantly improved without sacrificing safety. 3 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-89SF17885
• OSTI ID: 5341748
• Report Number(s): GA-A-20532; CONF-910879--2; ON: DE91018187
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ACTINIDES
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
BOILERS
COATED FUEL PARTICLES
CONSTRAINTS
CONTAINERS
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ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PARTICLES
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HEAT TRANSFER
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METALS
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REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR VESSELS
REACTORS
REMOVAL
SAFETY
STEAM GENERATORS
THORIUM
VAPOR GENERATORS