A Study on Operability and Maintainability of Lead-Bismuth Cooled Reactor

Abstract

The availability factor of lead-bismuth cooled reactor was investigated by the method of solving the problems on maintenance and estimating the period of annual inspections. In order to shorten the period of the annual inspection, the structural concept of fuel assemblies and the control rods was analyzed with considering the prevention of the rising of the fuel assemblies and the control rods, and the fuel exchange and maintainability. The period of annual inspections was estimated as about 39 days by using volumetric inspection technique to high temperature steam generator tubes. To make the annual inspection to the reactor module and the turbine simultaneously or with 8 overlapping days, the availability factor can be achieved to be more than 90%.