Composition, Performance and Regulations for Application of Devices to Fill Reactor Circuits with Lead Coolant

12/20/2024 2024 - #04 Chemistry, physics and technology of reactor coolants

Sumin R.V. Zyryanova T.K. Bokova T.A. Volkov N.S. Pogorelov M.D.

https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2024.4.08

This paper is devoted to analyzing systems for delivery and transportation of lead to the NPP unit, and for initial filling of reactor circuits with lead coolant. Key requirements are postulated for the lead filling system for the BREST-OD-300 and BR-1200 reactors. The analysis results make it possible to conclude that the best possible option for filling the reactor primary circuit with lead (in terms of filling time, quantity of required equipment, and availability of coolant technology) will be delivery and transportation of lead from the manufacturer site in the form of ingots with mechanizing the operation for transportation of ingots from the supplier site to the lead preparation and filling system smelter inlet. For serial units based on the BR-1200 reactor plant, the best possible option will be delivery of lead in special tank cars provided with a heating system.

The lead filling system adopted for the design of the BREST-OD-300 reactor under construction allows the following basic operations: preparation of lead for the loading into the system, loading of lead into the smelter, heating, melting and afterheating of lead to the filling temperature, preparation of lead for the circuit filling, reactor circuit filling. To support the primary circuit filling system lead coolant technology, operations will be performed for cleaning lead by settling method and for cleaning the free surface of lead from slags. Lead will be also circulated prior to being fed into the reactor circuit through special filter materials.

The results of the study are proposed for use in developing design documentation for the BREST-OD-300 and BR-1200 lead cooled reactor plants, as well as for their supporting systems

References

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lead coolant fast neutron reactor transportation primary circuit filling system

Link for citing the article: Sumin R.V., Zyryanova T.K., Bokova T.A., Volkov N.S., Pogorelov M.D. Composition, Performance and Regulations for Application of Devices to Fill Reactor Circuits with Lead Coolant. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2024, no. 4, pp. 95-103; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2024.4.08 (in Russian).