Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

Conference Article: R and D LMFRs knowledge preservation French project

Abstract

The French Institutions involved in LMFRs development (EDF Utilities, CEA Research Institute and FRAMATOME-ANP Engineering) decided in 2000 year to preserve the R and D knowledge which was raised during the last four decades of the 20th century: the long term availability (some decades) of LMFRs experience should be maintained thanks to an extensive, everlasting and intelligible form which could allow future designers to use this great amount of knowledge. Among different types of architecture, the LMFRs Fund of Knowledge is being raised in 2001 and 2002 along two complementary ways: - The main one gives an overall vision of R and D work undertaken through 23 R and D items: an overall view of LMFRs conception. 9 items about Core R and D work (Safety, Working, Thermohydraulics, Thermomechanics, Design Rules, Materials, Fuel clad failure, Neutronics, Nuclear fuel. 13 items about Reactor R and D work (Safety, Working, Sodium Coolant, Sodium Technology, Thermohydraulics, cover gas Aerolics, Thermomechanics, Design Rules, in sodium equipment Mechanics, Materials, In Service Inspection and Repair, Sodium Fires, Decommissioning). - The other one deals with the Design of what can be a LMFR: Superphenix Plant was chosen as the largest and validated industrial size LMFR through the conception of its 41 systems (Core system, Monitoring systems, Protective and Shut-down systems, Primary systems, Secondary and Steam Generator Systems, Decay Heat Removal system, Primary and secondary Handling systems, Cleaning and Decontamination systems, Fuel Storage system). Each R and D item and each Superphenix system is described with a Documentary Form, written by French specialist: after a brief description of the different sub-items (some pages), the list of relevant references are listed (some dozens to some hundreds of synthesis reports, basic literature, specialist interviews, Superphenix measurement data, EFR Project synthesis). Thus, the LMFRs Fund of Knowledge is made of the 64 Documentary Forms and of all the relevant bibliography (more than 10 000 documents). It is made of paper documents and of computerised CD-ROMs. Bibliographic research can be made easily thanks to computerised organisation. The Fund is recorded under safe conditions by the CEA Record Office. Of course, accessibility and up dating are strictly limited. (author)

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Reference:

Proceedings of a Technical Meeting held in Cadarache, France 11-15 March 2002

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

IAEA-TECDOC--1405, pp:243-247