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Overview of safety improvement during RBMK-1500 reactor core lifetime upgrading

  • R. Pabarcius , A. Tonkunas , A. Slavickas and M. Seporaitis
Published/Copyright: April 19, 2013
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Abstract

Starting from early to mid 1970s the first generation of channel-type graphite-moderated boiling water reactors socalled RBMK types were designed and went into operation. Nowadays, all designed RBMKs represent three generations of reactors having significant differences with respect to their safety design features. The Ignalina NPP with two RBMK-1500 units being a second generation type were originally the most powerful reactors in the world. The change of important neutron-physical characteristics, being specific safety features for RBMK type reactors during RBMK-1500 core upgrading processes are analyzed until final shutdown and their impact on safety during reactor lifetime is discussed.

Kurzfassung

Anfang bis Mitte der 1970er Jahre wurde die erste Generation von graphitmoderierten Siedewasserreaktoren vom Typ RBMK entwickelt und in Betrieb genommen. Heute repräsentieren alle entwickelten RBMKs drei Generationen von Reaktortypen mit signifikanten Unterschieden in Bezug auf ihre Sicherheitsaspekte. Das KKW Ignalina mit zwei RBMK-1500 Einheiten der zweiten Generation gehörte ursprünglich zu den leistungsfähigsten Reaktoren der Welt. Die Änderung wichtiger Neutronen-physikalischer Eigenschaften, als spezifische Sicherheitsmerkmale für Reaktoren vom RBMK Typ werden analysiert während der Erhöhung der Lebensdauer des Reaktorkerns bis zur endgültigen Abschaltung und ihr Einfluss auf die Sicherheit während der Lebensdauer des Reaktors wird diskutiert.

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Received: 2011-02-09
Published Online: 2013-04-19
Published in Print: 2011-11-01

© 2011, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

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