PBR safety revisited

摘要

Pebble bed reactors are attracting worldwide interest because of their high gas outlet temperatures, allowing applications beyond electricity generation. Germany has the most experience with the technology, and a detailed examination of that country's PBR experience is therefore appropriate, especially because of a lack of other long-term experience. Germany has constructed and operated two PBRs. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchsreaktor (AVR), or Working Group Test Reactor (46MWt, 15MWe), was operated over the period 1967-1988 at coolant (He) outlet temperatures up to 990℃, which are in principle suitable for process heat applications such as hydrogen generation by splitting water. Its availability (time basis) was 66%. After a construction time of 14 years, the Thorium-HTR THTR300 (750MWt, 300 MWe), was operated from 1985 to 1989 at coolant exit temperatures of 750℃, but for a total of only 1.2 fall power years (fpy).