Containment Isolation for the ARC-100 Sodium Fast Reactor

Abstract

Containment isolation requirements stated in CSA nuclear standards and CNSC regulatory documents were originally intended for water cooled reactor technology. The requirements can also be applied to advanced reactor technologies such as sodium fast reactors. The functional requirements found in regulatory documents and CSA standards, paired with the abundant international design literature and experience, can be applied to design safe pressure boundary containment penetrations and containment isolation in aSMR technology. Existing design experience and technology within the water cooled reactor industry can also be combined with sodium equipment design expertise to create safe reliable containment isolation for sodium pressure boundary systems. Butterfly valves are used for containment isolation in CANDU nuclear power plants because of their lightweight and fast actuation.

Butterfly valves are a good candidate for containment isolation in sodium pressure boundary systems. Stem sealing in sodium systems is currently achieved by use of bellows seals or sodium freeze plugs, butterfly valves allow for a shorter stem seal reducing the overall size and weight of the containment isolation valve.