Performance evaluation of an advanced integral reactor against an anticipated transient without scram

Performance evaluation of KAERI’s advanced integral reactor against an anticipated transient without scram has been carried out with the transients and setpoint simulation/small and medium reactor code, by considering a decrease in the heat removal by the secondary system, a loss of offsite power and an inadvertent control rod withdrawal event as an initiating event. In a decrease in the heat transfer by the secondary system and a loss of offsite power, the reactor coolant system pressures can be maintained below 110% of the design pressure during the transition period due to the effect of the large negative moderator temperature coefficient. On the other hand, in an inadvertent control rod withdrawal event, the pressure of the reactor coolant system increases up to the ASME service level C stress limit due to a high reactivity insertion into a reactor core by the adoption of a boron free core concept. Therefore, a hardware installation against an anticipated transient without scram is essential to mitigate the consequences resulting from an inadvertent control rod withdrawal event. A diverse protection system, which is an independent and diverse reactor shutdown system that is initiated by the signals of a high core power or a high pressurizer pressure, is adopted in the advanced integral reactor. According to the reassessment results by considering the diverse protection system for a reactor shutdown, the diverse protection system is helpful in mitigating the consequences of an anticipated transient without scram.