FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A CONTAINMENT TO RESIST CORE-MELT ACCIDENTS

A feasibility study has been performed for a light water reactor conta inment able to resist even severe accidents by passive means. Upper-bo und design loads have been cons;idered for all physically possible sce narios after a core-melt accident as determined by Kernforschungszentr um Karlsruhe. The essential layout of this containment is presented. B ased on the main system features of a German 1300-MW Convoy reactor ty pe, internal static pressure, hydrogen detonation, failure of the pres sure vessel under high pressure, and steam explosion, respectively, ha ve been regarded as well as such external loads as an airplane crash, earthquake, gas explosion, and so forth. The containment can remove th e decay heat by purely passive means, and if is believed that the desi gn can be realized at reasonable costs.