Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Problems experienced during operation of the prototype fast reactor, Dounreay, 1974-1994

Cruickshank, A.; Judd, A.M. (British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., Risley, Warrington (United Kingdom))

Abstract

The UK Prototype Fast Reactor, PFR, was designed in the 1960s and was operated at Dounreay in Scotland from 1974 to 1994. By the time it was shut down it had demonstrated the feasibility of the technology of a large sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor, and had been shown to operate safely and reliably. It had also provided an invaluable test facility for advancing the technology, particularly in developing advanced fuel and cladding materials that had achieved high burnup and neutron dose. As is usual in prototype plants the operation of PFR revealed the weak points of the original design concept. Several difficulties were encountered in the course of its operating life, all of which were successfully overcome. The purpose of this paper is to describe some of these difficulties and the steps taken to master them. In this way the benefit of the experience gained and the lessons learnt can be made available to the designers and operators of reactors of similar type. The intention is that future generations will not follow false trails in the further development of this promising technology.

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key words: cold traps; cracks; feasibility studies; leaks; pfr reactor; reactor operation; reactor safety; reactor shutdown; reliability; secondary coolant circuits; sodium; steam generators
Reference:
Technical committee meeting on unusual occurrences during LMFR operation. Vienna (Austria) 9-13 Nov 1998
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--1180, pp:16-48