Shielding Design for Steam Generator of Advanced Marine Reactor MRX

• Published in: Journal of nuclear science and technology Vol. 37; no. sup1; pp. 78 - 82
• Main Authors: Odano, Naoteru, Yamaji, Akio, Ishida, Toshihisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.03.2000
• Subjects: advanced marine reactor; MRX; radiation safety; shielding calculations; shielding design; steam generator shield; structural design
• ISSN: 0022-3131; 1881-1248
• DOI: 10.1080/00223131.2000.10874850

Compactness and light weight are of importance for a reactor plant used for ship propulsion. An advanced marine reactor, MRX, which has been designed by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute, has accomplished a passively safe, compact and light weight design by adoption of an integral PWR and a water filled containment vessel. Dose equivalent rates in all areas inside and outside a ship are required to be reduced below design criteria without any bulk shield outside the containment vessel. In this paper, a shielding design for installation of the steam generator in the vicinity of the reactor core to achieve a compact plant by reducing fast neutrons in the steam generator and to enable the engine room, where pipes of the secondary loop are installed, to be classified as surveillance area, not controlled area, is described. The main purpose to classify the engine room as the surveillance area is the improvement of working efficiency of crew. To accomplish the design goal, a relatively thick core barrel and a shield for the steam generator are introduced.