Study on safety design concept for future sodium-cooled fast reactors in Japan

Kubo, Shigenobu ; Shimakawa, Yoshio*

This paper describes safety design concept for future sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) in Japan, which is based on the safety design criteria and safety design guidelines developed in the auspices of the international forum of generation IV nuclear energy systems. Inherent and/or passive design features are utilized based on SFRs characteristics such as low pressure, high thermal inertia of the system. Lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident is one of important issues to be incorporated into the safety design concept. In order to realize commercial SFRs in the future, robust and rational safety design should be pursued by integrating various factors into the design and limiting additional specific systems, structures and components. Existing engineering principle for the design and manufacturing of SFR's components, and innovative technologies introduced in the FaCT project are keys to achieve the safety concept.