The Modular High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (MHTGR) in the US

Conference · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6260291

Neylan, A J; Graf, D V; Millunzi, A C

The MHTGR is an advanced nuclear reactor concept being developed in the USA under a cooperative program involving the US Government, the nuclear industry, and the utilities. As its objective, this program is developing a safe, reliable, and economic nuclear power option for the USA and the other nations of the world to consider in meeting their individual nationalistic electrical generation or process heat needs by the turn of the century. The design is based on a concept of modularization that can meet the various power needs by combining any number of 350 MW(t) reactor modules in parallel with a selected number of turbine plants in a variety of arrangements. Basic HTGR features of ceramic fuel, helium coolant, and graphite are sized and configured to provide a low power density core with passive safety features such that no operator action or external source of power is needed for the plant to meet 10CFR100 or Protective Action Guidelines limits at the 425 m site boundary. This precludes the necessity to plan for the evacuation or sheltering of the public during any licensing basis event. The safe behavior of the reactor plant is not dependent upon operator action and it is insensitive to operator error. The Conceptual Design is presently being vigorously reviewed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). A safety evaluation report and a licensability statement are scheduled for issuance by the NRC in January 1988. 2 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: General Atomics Co., San Diego, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-84SF11963
• OSTI ID: 6260291
• Report Number(s): DOE/HTGR-87-088; CONF-870863-4; ON: DE88000053
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210300* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated
BUILDINGS
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT BUILDINGS
DESIGN
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
LICENSING
MODULAR STRUCTURES
REACTOR LICENSING
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY