Containment structure and arrangement for nuclear reactor

Abstract

A safety system for a nuclear reactor includes a first containment structure and a second containment structure. The double containment configuration is designed and configured to meet all design basis accidents and beyond design basis events with independent redundancy. The remaining systems that control reactivity, decay heat removal, and fission product retention may be categorized and designed as business systems, structures, and components, and can therefore be designed and licensed according to an appropriate quality grade for business systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nuclear reactor, comprising:
 a nuclear reactor core;   a reactor vessel, the nuclear reactor core within the reactor vessel;   a reactivity control system that is categorized as a business system;   a decay heat removal system that is categorized as a business system;   a fission product retention system that is categorized as a business system;   a first containment structure surrounding the reactor vessel, the first containment structure categorized as a first safety system; and   a second containment structure surrounding the first containment structure, the second containment structure categorized as a second safety system;   wherein the first containment structure and second containment structure are sufficient to meet all design basis accidents and the second containment structure provides redundancy to the first containment structure.   
     
     
         2 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 1 , wherein safety-related equipment associated with the nuclear reactor consists essentially of the first containment structure and the second containment structure. 
     
     
         3 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the decay heat removal system is not categorized as safety related equipment. 
     
     
         4 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the first containment structure comprises an air-tight steel structure surrounded by concrete. 
     
     
         5 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the second containment structure comprises reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         6 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 5 , wherein the second containment structure comprises steel-reinforce concrete. 
     
     
         7 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the first containment structure defines a first volume and the second containment structure defines a second volume greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         8 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of the second volume to the first volume is greater than 10. 
     
     
         9 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of the second volume to the first volume is greater than 20. 
     
     
         10 . The nuclear reactor of  claim 7 , wherein a ratio of the second volume to the first volume is greater than 50. 
     
     
         11 . A safety system for a nuclear reactor consisting essentially of a first containment structure surrounding a nuclear reactor vessel, and a second containment structure surrounding the first containment structure. 
     
     
         12 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first containment structure comprises reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         13 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first containment structure comprises a sealed steel structure. 
     
     
         14 . The safety system as in  claim 13 , wherein the first containment structure comprises an airlock through the first containment structure to provide access to an interior portion of the first containment structure. 
     
     
         15 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the second containment structure comprises reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         16 . The safety system as in  claim 15 , wherein the second containment structure comprises steel reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         17 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first containment structure and the second containment structure are decoupled from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first containment structure and the second containment structure are designed to eliminate any public safety consequence of a design basis accident. 
     
     
         19 . The safety system as in  claim 11 , wherein the first containment structure defines a first volume and the second containment structure defines a second volume greater than the first volume. 
     
     
         20 . The safety system as in  claim 19 , wherein a ratio of the second volume to the first volume is greater than 10.