Design Study on a Fuel Handling System in a Sodium Cooled Reactor

Chikazawa, Yoshitaka  ; Hori, Toru*; Usui, Shinichi; Konomura, Mamoru; Nishiguchi, Yohei

In the feasibility study on commercialized fast breeder cycle system, fuel handling systems for sodium cooled reactors has been studied. In FY 2003 study, a fuel handling system with an EVST for a power plant with 4 medium scale modular reactors is designed and key issues about the system are identified. A manipulator type fuel handling machine suitable for the upper internal structure with a slit designed and seismic analyses show that it can treat spent fuels without interaction with upper internal structure in earthquakes. Fuel handling time is reduced adopting a sodium pot which can carry 2 subassemblies in onetime.In this study, a innovative concept without an EVST is also studied. In this concept, the total mass is not dramatically reduced comparing a system with an EVST because several fuel transfer machines with gas cooling systems are needed for safety point of view.