Role of Fugen HWR in Japan and Design of a 600 MWe Demonstration Reactor

摘要

Fugen, a 165 MWe prototype of a heavy water-moderated, boiling light water-cooled reactor, has been in commercial operation since March 20, 1979. In parallel with the Fugen project, the design work for a 600 MWe demonstration plant has been carried out since 1973. The important systems and components, such as pressure tube assemblies and control rod drive mechanism, are essentially the same as those of Fugen. However, some modification is made owing to the experience obtained in Fugen and LWrs. In the HWR Fugen, plutonium and uranium are effectively used, and plutonium makes the coolant void reactivity more negative, which results in the increase of the stability and safety of the reactor. On August 4, 1981, the ad hoc committee submitted the final report to the Japanese Atomic Energy Commission, in which the construction of a 600 MWe demonstration plant was recommended. As for the research and development on reactor safety, coolant leak detectors, the performance of ECCS, and safety design codes are enumerated. Since 1965, mixed oxide fuel has been developed, and 168 fuel assemblies were loaded in Fugen, but failure did not occur. (Atomindex citation 14:772780)