Design experience: CRBRP radiation shielding

Conference · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6434193

Disney, R. K.; Chan, T. C.; Gallo, F. G.; Hedgecock, L. R.; McGinnis, C. A.; Wrights, G. N.

The Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant (CRBRP) is being designed as a fast breeder demonstration project in the U.S. Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) program. Radiation shielding design of the facility consists of a comprehensive design approach to assure compliance with design and government regulatory requirements. Studies conducted during the CRBRP design process involved the aspects of radiation shielding dealing with protection of components, systems, and personnel from radiation exposure. Achievement of feasible designs, while considering the mechanical, structural, nuclear, and thermal performance of the component or system, has required judicious trade-offs in radiation shielding performance. Specific design problems which have been addressed are in-vessel radial shielding to protect permanent core support structures, flux monitor system shielding to isolate flux monitoring systems for extraneous background sources, reactor vessel support shielding to allow personnel access to the closure head during full power operation, and primary heat transport system pipe chaseway shielding to limit intermediate heat transport system sodium system coolant activation. The shielding design solutions to these problems defined a need for prototypic or benchmark experiments to provide assurance of the predicted shielding performance of selected design solutions and the verification of design methodology. Design activities of CRBRP plant components an systems, which have the potential for radiation exposure of plant personnel during operation or maintenance, are controlled by a design review process related to radiation shielding. The program implements design objectives, design requirements, and cost/benefit guidelines to assure that radiation exposures will be ''as low as reasonably achievable'' (ALARA).

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Madison, PA (USA). Advanced Reactors Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-15-2395
• OSTI ID: 6434193
• Report Number(s): CONF-781117--7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
CLINCH RIVER BREEDER REACTOR
DESIGN
DOCUMENT TYPES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
REVIEWS
SHIELDING
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS