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temperatures and void fractions. The reactivity coefficients are defined as the reactivity change due to a unit change in each of these parameters. For example, the Doppler coefficient is the core reactivity change corresponding to a 1°C change in the fuel temperature. There are other reactivity coefficients, too, such as the moderator temperature coefficient and the void coefficient.

All these reactivity coefficients are integrated into a single coefficient, namely, the power coefficient This power coefficient must be negative for safety reasons and the BWR core is required by the Regulatory Guide to be so designed. Any increase in power leads to higher fuel temperatures, which in turn adds a negative reactivity due to the Doppler effect. Increased void generation and moderator temperatures also add further negative reactivity in the core. This negative reactivity limits the reactor power increase. This negative feedback feature of a BWR (reactivity changes suppressing power changes) is called the self-regulating characteristics.

As mentioned earlier, the reactor is scrammed (emergency shutdown) by the automatic activation of the reactor shutdown system, if the fuel conditions approach its acceptable fuel design limits in the reactor.

The shutdown capability of the reactor is defined by the reactivity to bring the reactor from the critical condition down to the subcritical condition. The core is designed so that the core can be maintained with sufficient shutdown margin under the cold shutdown conditions even when the control rod of the highest reactivity worth fails to function, i.e., being fully stuck outside the core.

No two control rods are allowed to be maneuvered simultaneously, so that the risk of a reactivity insertion accident caused by any malfunctions or miss-operations is minimized. Furthermore, the reactivity insertion rate is limited by limiting the control rod withdrawal speeds, thus preventing any damage to the fuel and the reactor coolant pressure boundaries, which might be caused by an anticipated reactivity initiated event.

  1. Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary

The reactor coolant pressure boundary is a system boundary, which contains the reactor

coolant. It functions as the pressure barrier during normal operations, anticipated operational occurrences and under severe conditions in an accident.

The reactor coolant pressure boundary also functions as the barrier to fission product release, next to the fuel cladding. If the boundary is fractured, the reactor coolant will flow out of the reactor system jeopardizing decay heat removal. The reactor coolant pressure boundary is a crucially important part of the reactor system.

Material selection, aseismic design and prevention measures of over-pressurization for the equipment and piping used in the reactor coolant pressure boundary are deliberately considered, in order to lower the risk of unusual coolant leakage or boundary failures below an acceptable level. The system design enables their in-service inspections during the refueling and other reactor outage periods. Their sufficient strengths to withstand all possible design basis transients are also confirmed by analysis.

Due consideration is given to the fracture toughness properties of the reactor coolant pressure boundary components made of ferritic steel. Due consideration is also given to their duty conditions during normal and accident conditions, thus preventing brittle or rapidly propagating fractures. For example, when the temperature of the primary coolant system is being raised or lowered, severe duty conditions are avoided by limiting the rate of temperature increase or decrease, while ensuring the system operation in the safe domain.

Among others, the nil ductility transition temperature (NDTT) of the RPV increases due to fast neutron irradiations. Thorough consideration is given to material selection, design and manufacturing of the RPV. For further confidence, surveillance test specimens of the RPV material, inserted in capsules, are embedded inside the RPV around the core and mechanically tested upon recovery based on the pre-planned schedules. By doing so, safe operation conditions are checked such as the lowest operation temperatures.

A sufficiently detectable “leak before break (LBB)”, in piping for example, is generally considered realistic, before the cracks occur, rapidly develop, and result in a serious rupture. Diversified

NSRA, Japan

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