Prototype

Fast Breeder Reactor

Preliminary
Safety Analysis Report

Chapter 1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PLANT

Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research

Department of Atomic Energy,
Kalpakkam-603 102, INDIA

February 2004 Revision 0

 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PLANT
CONTENTS

1.1 Introduction
1.2 Plant Description

1.2.1 Site Characteristics

1.2.2 Plant Layout
1.2.3 Nuclear Steam Supply System
1.2.3.1 Reactor Core
1.2.3.2 Reactor Assembly
1.2.3.3 Main Heat Transport System
1.2.3.4 Component Handling Systems
1.2.4 Balance of Plant
1.2.4.1 Steam-Water System
1.2.4.2 Electrical Power Systems
1.2.4.3 Auxiliary Systems
1.2.5 Containment
1.2.6 Instrumentation and Control (I&C)
1.2.7 Radioactive Waste Management
1.3 Technical Data
 Chapter 1

General Description of Plant

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), is a 500 MWe unit designed by Indira Gandhi Centre
for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam. It is a sodium cooled, mixed oxide (MOX) fuelled, pool type
fast reactor. The core thermal power is 1253 MW and the gross electrical output is 500 MWe.
The reactor is located at Kalpakkam, 500 m south of Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS).
Kalpakkam is 60 km south of Chennai on the coast of Bay of Bengal.

1.2 PLANT DESCRIPTION

1.2.1 SITE CHARACTERISTICS
Suitability of the site, has been verified based on the following considerations:
• Land availability
• Proximity to load centre
• Access to site by road and rail
• Geological, seismological, meteorological and hydrological conditions
• Waste disposal
• Availability of condenser cooling water
• Availability of good infrastructure
1.2.2 P LANT L AYOUT
The plant layout has been developed on the basis of a single unit (fig. 1.1). The layout has been
made taking into consideration safety requirements, distance for flow of energy, constructability,
maintainability, security and economics. The reactor containment building (RCB) is rectangular
in shape. The RCB, fuel building (FB) and two steam generator buildings (SGB) are connected
and laid on a common base raft from safety considerations. In addition, control building, two
electrical buildings and radwaste building are also laid on the common raft and connected to
form a nuclear island consisting of eight buildings to reduce the magnitude of structural response
under seismic loads and length of cables. The finished floor levels of all safety related buildings
are 0.8 m above the design basis flood level. A service building is provided to cater to the needs
of plant services. The turbine building is located such that the missile trajectory is outside the
safety related buildings and the stack. Four diesel generators provided for Class III emergency
power requirements are housed in two separate safety related diesel generator buildings. The
stack, 100 m tall, is located close to the radwaste building. There is single point entry in the
radiation zones. The switchyard is oriented to suit the power evacuation scheme, based on
220 kV transmission system.
©
NOT E: ALL DIMENSIO NS ARE IN 'mm' O NLY
LEGEND:
1. REACTOR CONTAINMENT BUILDING
2. STEAM GENERATOR BUILDING-1
3. STEAM GENERATOR BUILDING-2
4. FUEL BUILDING
5. RAD WASTE BUILDING
6. ELECTRICAL BUiLDINS-1
7. CONTROL BUILDING
8. ELECTRICAL BUILDING-2
9. SERVICE BUILDING
10. TURBINE BUILDING
11. TRANSFORMER YARD
12. 220 kv INDOOR SWITCH YARD
13. LIQUID N2 STORAGE
14. DIESEL GENERATOR BUILDING-1
15. FUEL OIL STORAGE-1
16. HORTON SPHERES
17. STACK
16, SERVICE WATER PUMP HOUSE
19. FUEL OIL STORAGE-2
20. DIESEL GENERATOR BUILDING-2
21. RAW WATER AND Fl RE WATER PUMP HOUSE
22. PACKAGE BOILER! FUEL OIL STORAGE TANK
21 DM. PLANT JO
24. CHLORINE BUILDING
25. SITE ASSEMBLY SHOP
26. CONSTRUCTION POWER STATION
27. TRAINING CENTRE/ FUTURE EXTN.
23. ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
29. CANTEEN
33
30. EMERGENCY TURBINE OIL TANK,
31. CONOENSER COOLING WATER OUTFALL
32. CONDENSER COOLING WATER INTAKE JETTY.
33. SECURITY FENCE.
34. SEA WATER PUMP HOUSE.
©
35. BUS STAND,
36. SECURITY.
37. CONDENSATE STORAGE TANK,
38. SEA WATER FILTERS
39. STORE,
40. OPEN SCRAPYARD
41. SPACE FOR SEWAGE LIFT STATION
42. TRANSFORMER AREA FOR CONVERTERS.
43. OFFICE ROOM
44 EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANT
a) OIL WATER SEPARATOR
b) CENTRAL MONITORING BASIN
cj SLUOGE POND
d) COLLECTION SUMP & PUMP ROOM
e) ELECTRICAL CONTROL BLDG.

Fig. 1.1 : PLANT LAYOUT

 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04
Section 1.2.3.2

1. Genera! Description of Plant

1.2.3 NUCLEAR STEAM SUPPLY SYSTEM

1.2.3.1 REACTOR CORE
The active core, in which most of the heat is generated by controlled fission, consists
of 181 fuel subassemblies (FSA) of which 85 with 21 % PuO2 content are in the
inner enrichment zone and 96 subassemblies with 28 % PuO, content are in the
outer enrichment zone (fig. 1.2). There are 2 rows of radial blanket subassemblies.
12 absorber rods viz., 9 control and safety rods (CSR) and 3 diverse safety rods
(DSR) are arranged in two rings. Enriched boron carbide is used as absorber
material. The details of core are as indicated in table 1.1
Table 1.1 : Core Subassembly Data

Type of Subassembly No
Fuel Inner 85
Fuel Outer 96
Control and safety rod 9
Diverse safety rod 3
Blanket 120
Steel Reflector 138
B4C Shielding (Inner) 125

Internal Storage 156

Steel shielding 609
B4C Shielding (Outer) 417

Total 1758

Each FSA (fig. 1.3) consists of 217 helium bonded pins of 6.6 mm diameter.
Each pin has 1000 mm column of MOX, 300 mm each of upper and lower depleted
UO., blanket columns and fission gas plena. Maximum linear pin power of 450
W/cm has been fixed based on hot spot analysis with adequate margin for fuel
melting. The initial peak fuel bum-up is 100 GWd/t and is targeted to be increased
to 200 GWd/t in the long run.
Radial core shielding is provided by SS SA and B4C SA. This together with the
top axial shielding provided within the SA limits the secondary sodium activity
thereby enabling controlled access to SGB.
1.2.3.2 REACTOR ASSEMBLY
The reactor assembly consists of grid plate, core support structure, inner vessel,
main vessel, thermal baffles, safety vessel, thermal insulation, roof slab, rotatable
plugs, control plug and absorber rod drive mechanisms (fig. 1.4). A single grid plate
is used to support all the core subassemblies (CSA) and to distribute coolant to the
CSA. The grid plate has four sodium inlet pipes i.e. two from each of the primary
sodium pumps. The core support structure supports the
 LEGEND
1. MAIN VESSEL

2. CORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE

03-CORE CATCHER

4. GRID PLATE

5. CORE

6. SAFETY VESSEL

7. INNER VESSEL

8. TOP SHIELD(L.R.P,S.R.PSROOF SLAB)

9. CONTROL PLUG

10. CONTROL & SAFETY ROD DRIVE MECHANISM

11. TRANSFER ARM

12. INTERMEDIATE HEAT EXCHANGER

13. PRIMARY SODIUM PUMP

Fig. 1.4: REACTOR ASSEMBLY

 PFBB/PSAR/Rev. 0/19.02,04 Section 1.2.3.3

I. General Description of Plant

grid plate and inner vessel. The main vessel diameter (12.9 m) has been optimised considering
the fuel handling scheme and the layout of the components on the roof slab. The height of the
main vessel is fixed such that the active portion (fuel) of the FSA is submerged in sodium during
refuelling. The main vessel has no penetration and the bottom closure shape is specially designed
to enhance its buckling resistance. It is top supported by welding to the outer shell of the roof
slab and is free to expand downwards. To enhance its structural integrity, it is cooled by cold
sodium to keep the maximum temperature during normal operation < 723 K. About 6 % of the
total primary sodium flow is used for cooling the main vessel. The total weight of primary
sodium is 1150 t. Safety vessel is provided to collect the leaking sodium in the remote event of
any sodium leakage from the main vessel. The intervessel space between the main vessel and
the safety vessel is filled with nitrogen. The gap is 300 mm to permit robotic visual and
ultrasonic inspection of the vessels and to keep the sodium level to about 250 mm minimum
above the bottom of inlet windows of IHX which ensures continued cooling of the core in case
of a main vessel leak. An inner vessel separates the hot and cold pools of sodium. To minimise
sodium leakage from hot pool to cold pool at the IHX penetration, a mechanical seal is used.
Roof slab supports the large rotatable plug, primary sodium pumps, IHX and heat exchangers of
the decay heat removal system. The roof slab is a box structure made of 30 mm thick carbon
steel plates. It provides thermal and biological shielding in the top axial direction. Heavy density
concrete is used as the shielding material. Air is used for cooling the roof slab. A warm roof slab
concept (T > 383 K) has been chosen to avoid deposition of sodium in the annular gaps.
Rotatable plugs (LRP & SRP) enable access to all CSA, which require handling. A replaceable
separate control plug supports twelve absorber rod drive mechanisms, thermocouples for
measurement of sodium outlet temperature of each FSA and three failed fuel location modules
for sodium sampling. The control plug also houses six tubes inside which neutron detectors are
located for monitoring neutron flux. A central canal plug is provided at the centre of control plug
to enable installation of experimental subassemblies in the core.
The reactor shutdown system consists of 9 control and safety rod drive mechanisms (CSRDM)
and 3 diverse safety rod drive mechanisms (DSRDM). CSRDM are used to control the reactor
power manually and to start-up/shutdown of the reactor. They have an electromagnet in argon
space, which can be de-energised to drop the control and safety rod (CSR), and an oil dash pot
to decelerate the CSRDM towards the end of its travel. DSRDM are used only to scram the
reactor. DSRDM has electromagnet in sodium, which is de-energised to drop diverse safety rod
(DSR). A dash pot in sodium decelerates the DSR towards the end of its travel.
A core catcher is provided below the core support structure to prevent the core debris reaching
the main vessel and to cool them by natural convection of sodium. It is designed for the case
of melt down of seven subassemblies following a hypothetical total instantaneous blockage
of a single fuel subassembly.

1.2.3.3 MAIN HEAT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

The Primary sodium circuit is contained within the main vessel and removes heat from the core
and delivers it to the secondary sodium circuit in IHX (fig. 1.5). The primary circuit consists of
the reactor core, the hot pool at the core outlet, four IHX, the cold pool, two primary pumps, the
primary pipes and the grid plate. Primary sodium flows from the hot pool on the shell side of
the IHX, through IHX to the pumps, and from the pump discharge to the grid plate. IHX is a
vertically oriented, shell and straight tube heat exchanger. Secondary sodium enters through a
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section 1.2.3.4

1. General Description of Plant 1.9

central down comer in the IHX, rises from the lower plenum through the tube bundle and exits
through an annular flow riser. The primary pump is a vertical, single stage, single suction, free
surface centrifugal pump. An auxiliary pony motor provides capability for decay heat removal.
There are two secondary loops. The main components of each secondary loop are the tube side
of the two IHX, surge tank, the shell side of the four steam generators (SG), the secondary pump,
connecting piping and the isolation valves of the SG. The SG is a once through integrated,
vertical, counter current shell and tube heat exchanger with provision of expansion bend in each
tube with sodium flow from top to bottom. Each SG is provided with tube leak detection system.
Rupture discs are provided at the inlet and outlet of each SG to limit the pressure in the IHX
from large sodium water reaction. The secondary pump is a vertical, single stage, single suction
centrifugal pump. Sodium purity is maintained in the primary and secondary circuits by cold
traps. All sodium piping inside the RCB is provided with nitrogen inerted guard piping to ensure
that no sodium from primary sodium purification, secondary and safety grade decay heat removal
(SGDHR) circuits can enter the containment volume in the event of a leak. Continuous leak
monitoring of the inter-pipe annulus is provided by sodium leak detectors.
In case of off-site power failure or non-availability of steam-water system, the decay heat is
removed by SGDHR circuit consisting of four identical loops. Each of these loops consist of one
sodium/sodium heat exchanger (DHX) immersed in the hot pool, one sodium/air heat exchanger
(AHX) located at elevated level, associated sodium piping, tanks, and air dampers. The
intermediate sodium and air flow are by natural circulation. Each loop can remove 8 MW when
hot pool temperature is 803 K. Diversity is provided for DHX, AHX and dampers.
1.2.3.4 COMPONENT HANDLING SYSTEMS
The core subassemblies (fuel, absorber, blanket, reflector and shielding SA) are handled with
reactor in shutdown condition at a sodium temperature of 473 K. Refuelling is done after 185
effective full power days (efpd). The handling system is divided into two parts i.e. in-vessel
handling and ex-vessel handling. In-vessel handling is done with the help of two rotatable plugs
and a transfer arm. For ex-vessel handling, an inclined rotatable shield leg machine called
inclined fuel transfer machine (IFTM) is used (fig. 1.6). Handling of fresh SA consists of receipt
from transport flask, visual inspection to check for any apparent damage, checking of serial
number and core zone to which they are to be loaded, flow test for any gross blockage of flow
path and storage in fresh SA storage bay. They are then transferred to the reactor using fresh SA
transfer chamber cell transfer machine and IFTM after preheating to 473 K.
The spent fuel subassemblies are stored inside the main vessel for one campaign (8 months) and
then shifted to spent subassembly storage bay (SSSB) located in FB, which is a demineralised
water filled pool. It has capacity to store 710 CSA. Sodium sticking to CSA is washed in fuel
transfer cell before lowering them into the pool water. Special handling is done using leak tight
shielded flasks. One flask is used to handle large components like primary pump and IHX and
another for slender components like ARDM. There is a separate flask for handling DHX. A
decontamination facility is provided inside RCB for removal of sodium and radioactive corrosion
and fission products from primary components before taking them for maintenance. A process
using a mixture of nitrogen, carbondioxide and water vapour is employed for sodium removal
prior to decontamination of components.
 PFBR/PSAJR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section .1.2.4.2

1. General Description of Plant 1,11

1.2.4 B ALANCE OF P LANT

1.2.4.1 STEAM-WATER SYSTEM
The steam-water system adopts the standard turbine that is used in fossil fired thermal power
stations of the same rating. The turbine is of tandem compound design with separate HP, IP and
LP cylinders. The steam cycle employs regenerative feed water heating based on steam bled from
the turbine. There are 6 stages of feed water heating, five in surface type feed water heaters and
the sixth in a direct contact heater, deaerator. The system is designed to heat the condensate from
320 K to 508 K.
A steam separator is provided at the common outlet of 8 SG to take care of two-phase flow
during start-up and shut down of the plant. Reheating of HP exhaust steam is done using live
steam from the SG in 2 vertical steam to steam reheaters. The condensate from the condenser
hot well is delivered to the deaerator using 3x50% condensate extraction pumps, through 3 low
pressure heaters, gland steam condenser and a full flow on-line condensate polishing unit. The
feed water from the deaerator storage tanks is supplied to the SG using 2x50% turbine driven
feed water pumps and 1x50% motor driven feed water pump through a double train of 2 high
pressure heaters. A turbine bypass of 60% capacity is provided to facilitate bypassing the main
steam and restart of the unit after a minor turbine fault.
At nominal power, a flow of 1805 t/h at a pressure of 16.7 MPa and temperature of 763 K, is
delivered to the single flow HP turbine. After expansion in HP cylinder, steam exhausts to a
steam-steam reheater wherein the HP turbine exhaust steam is reheated before admission to a
double flow IP turbine. Subsequently, steam enters the double flow LP turbine and exhausts to
a steam surface condenser cooled by seawater.
To remove the heat rejected from the steam cycle in the condenser, a once-through condenser
cooling water system is employed using sea water. The total heat rejected in the condenser is
755 MWt. 2x50% concrete volute pumps are provided for condenser cooling.

1.2.4.2 ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEMS

Electrical power system is a source of power for the reactor coolant pumps and other auxiliaries
during normal conditions, and for the protection system and engineered safety systems during
normal and accident conditions. Both off-site and on-site electrical power supply systems are
provided. 220 kV is the transmission voltage. The plant is connected to the Tamil Nadu/Southem
Regional Grid to transmit the power generated and these connections also provide off-site power
supply to the station. A 220 kV substation with five numbers of transmission lines and double
circuit ties to MAPS 220 kV bus is provided (fig. 1.7). An indoor switchyard is provided to
increase the reliability of the electrical equipment against the saline atmosphere. The switching
scheme selected for the extra high voltage (EHV) substation is double main bus scheme with
double circuit breakers in the feeder of the generator transformer (GT) and a single circuit
breaker in the transmission line connections. Additionally a bus coupler linking the two main bus
is also provided to facilitate power flow through the 220 kV bus on generator trip.
The generator is directly coupled to the turbine. The electric power from the terminals of the
generator flows to the GT and two unit auxiliary transformers through isolated phase bus ducts.
The generator circuit breaker is located between the generator and the GT. The GT steps-up the
generator voltage of 21 kV to 220 kV, which is connected to the grid through 220 kV substation.
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section 1.2.4.2

1. General Description of Plant 1,13

Class IV is the main source of power to all the station electrical loads. The Class IV normal AC
power supply system derives its power from different sources of supply as mentioned below;
• From the grid through a 220 kV/ 6.9 kV/ 6.9 kV station transformer.
• From the grid through a 220 kV/ 21 kV GT and two numbers of 21 kV/ 6.9 kV unit auxiliary
transformers with the generator circuit breaker kept in open position.
• From the terminals of the TG through the two numbers of 21 kV/ 6.9 kV unit auxiliary
transformers when the generator circuit breaker is closed during power generation.
The AC supply voltages (Class III and IV) selected for the station auxiliary loads are :
High voltage 6.6 kV, 3 Ph, 50 Hz Medium voltage 415 V, 3 Ph, 50 Hz
Safety related loads, which can withstand power supply interruption of the order of few minutes,
are fed from Class III bus. The Class III 6.6 kV busses are normally supplied from the Class FV
busses. Standby emergency diesel generators (DG) are provided as on-site sources of AC power
to feed the Class III supply system. There are 4 DG sets, each rated to supply 50% of the total
emergency power supply demand with a rating of 3MW. DG take 10 s to start. Major loads
connected to the Class III bus include main drive system and pony motors supply system of
primary sodium pumps, reactor assembly top shield cooling system blowers, water chiller
compressors, ventilation system emergency fans/blowers, AHU, instrumentation & control
power supplies, TG emergency auxiliary drives.
Class 11-240 V, AC, 1 Ph, 50Hz UPS supply is provided for computers, distributed digital control
equipment and other hardware requiring no break AC supply.
Class 1-48 V DC safety systems power supply is used for neutron flux monitoring system, core
temperature monitoring system and the pneumatically operated dampers of SGDHR. There is
another Class I 48 V DC safety and safety related system which supplies control room panel
requirements, process related 48 V DC loads etc. SGDHR motor operated dampers, Class III
power supply switchgear control & protection, input supply to CSRDM/DSRDM off-line
inverters, DC emergency lighting and high power solenoids are the major loads for Class I -
220 V DC safety and safety related systems power supply. The DC load of the TG plant and
Class IV switchgear control power requirements are met by Class I - 220 V DC general power
supply system.
For power supplies to CSRDM & DSRDM motors, 415 V, 3 Ph, 50 Hz is used. Two
independent off-line dedicated inverter systems having input from the Class I - 220V DC safety
and safety related system power supply along with the 415V emergency feeders are provided to
supply these motors.
Variable speed AC drives are provided for the two primary and two secondary sodium pumps.
The supply to these drive systems for normal operation is fed from the Class FV normal AC
power supply through Class III bus. However, when the normal AC power supply fails, the
flywheels provide for all the four sodium pumps, the energy requirements for the flow coast
down. An AC pony motor is additionally provided for each of the primary sodium pumps to
continue the forced convection core cooling during the period of off-site power failure as well
as station black out condition for 4 h.
Section 1.2.4.2 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04
1.14 1- General Description of Plant
Mineral insulated stainless steel sheathed heating elements with expanded cold output are used
for preheating the sodium systems. The primary sodium side is initially preheated through
nitrogen gas system which is electrically heated. SG preheating is by hot water in the tubes
together with electrical heaters on the shell side.

1.2.4.3 AUXILIARY SYSTEMS

Nitrogen Supply System

This system supplies nitrogen to (1) liquid nitrogen plant required for cover gas purification
system, (2) provide inert atmosphere in components and cells housing sodium equipment and (3)
mitigate the consequences of sodium leak (fire). Nitrogen is produced in-house by a pressure
swing adsorption (PSA) type plant and stored in two horton spheres. The PSA type plant is sized
for producing 30 Nm3 at 0.5 MPa and stored in two horton spheres of 3,600 Nm3 at 1.6 MPa
after booster compression. Impurity levels in nitrogen are limited to H2 < 10 vpm, O2 < 10 vpm
and dew point to less than 213 K.

Argon Supply System

This system consists of a bank of cylinders supplying argon to RCB, SGB and FB. Argon is
employed as a cover gas over sodium free levels in all the components and also for providing
inert atmosphere in various handling facilities. Argon is supplied at 0.9 MPa from six banks of
40 cylinders each. The impurity levels in argon are limited to O 2 < 5 vpm, H 2 < 10 vpm,
N 2 < 100 vpm, H 2 O < 5 vpm and CH 4 < 10 vpm.
Service Water System
This system is an intermediate closed loop DM water system for cooling various plant equipment
such as TG auxiliaries, DG, spent fuel cooling system heat exchangers (HX) and dissipates the
heat to sea water/raw water. The system has three sub-systems (1) Normal service water system
(NSWS) which cools all non-safety equipment with normal power supply (2) Emergency service
water system (ESWS) which cools non-safety equipment like chillers and air compressors during
Class IV power failure, (3) Safety related service water system (SSWS) which cool all safety
related equipment (DG, spent fuel cooling HX, top shield cooling HX and biological shield
cooling HX). NSWS rejects heat to seawater, and ESWS and SSWS reject heat to raw water and
then to air through a cooling tower. The total heat rejected is 25 MW.

Biological Shield Cooling System

This is a closed loop DM water system provided for cooling the reactor vault concrete. The
cooling is accomplished by circulating water through 2x100% coils embedded in the lateral and
bottom of the vault. The system rejects the heat to SSWS in a HX. The heat removal capacity
of the system is 250 kW.

Fire Water System

This is the main fire suppression system in all plant areas - indoor and outdoor, except reactor
containment and steam generator buildings. The system provides a pressurised ring main.
External hydrants are provided around buildings at regular intervals. Internal hydrants are
provided at all elevations in all buildings except RCB and SGB. Sprinklers and high velocity
sprays are provided to protect cable galleries, transformers, oil tanks and DG sets. Both electrical
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section 1.2.6

1. General Description of Plant 1 ."1 5

and diesel engine driven firewater pumps are provided to assure fire water supply at all credible
situations.
Sodium Fire Protection System
All sodium pipelines inside RCB are provided with guard pipe and the inter-space is inerted with
nitrogen. The primary cold traps are provided with nitrogen inerted guard vessel. Small pipelines
of primary sodium purification circuits are housed in nitrogen inerted steel cabin. In case of a
sodium leak, the sodium is contained in the guard pipe/guard vessel/steel cabin and there is no
sodium fire as they are nitrogen inerted. The primary argon buffer tank (which is also used for
fill and drain of sodium) is single walled and housed in steel lined concrete cell and flooded with
nitrogen in case of sodium leak. Nitrogen injection provision has been made in case of sodium
leak in AHX.
All sodium pipelines, components and tanks housed in SGB-1 & 2 are single walled and
provided with leak collection trays beneath them to collect any sodium leak. To suppress the
sodium fire, dry chemical powder (DCP) is applied over the leaked sodium. The quantity of DCP
stored is 3 times the quantity of sodium likely to catch fire.

1.2.5 CONTAINMENT
The containment is designed to provide a leak tight boundary that contains the release of
radioactive core fission products and fuel, and withstands the pressure resulting from burning of
sodium in air through potential leak paths in case of core disruptive accident (CDA) so that dose
limits for design basis accident (DBA) are not exceeded. The leak tightness has been specified
as 0.1 V% /h. The design pressure of the containment following CDA is 25 kPa. Single
containment, rectangular, non-vented and reinforced concrete construction are the main design
features of the containment. During normal operation, the containment is kept under small
negative pressure (500 Pa below atmospheric). All ventilation ducts opening to the containment
atmosphere are automatically isolated by dampers closing in 60 s in the event of CDA.

1.2.6 I NSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL (I&C)

The important functions of I&C system are to monitor various parameters in order to guide the
operator in all the states of the reactor, control certain parameters within limits and initiate
automatic safety actions on critical parameters crossing set limits. A three level control scheme
is adopted viz. field, local control centre and control room. Safety and safety related systems are
monitored and operated from control room and they are designed in fail safe mode. Two diverse
hardwired logic systems are provided for systems connected with reactor safety. Microprocessor
based distributed digital control system is used for non-safety related systems. Neutron detectors
are provided above the core at the bottom of control plug to monitor the flux and provide signals
for safety action on parameters - neutron power, period and reactivity. Neutron monitoring is
triplicated to permit 2/3 logic. Failed fuel detection is done by monitoring of cover gas fission
product activity and delayed neutrons in the primary coolant. Three selector valves that
sequentially select sodium samples from FSA outlets are provided for location of failed fuel
subassembly. 2 chromel-alumel thermocouples are provided at the outlet of each FSA to monitor
the temperature of sodium. Flow delivered by sodium pump is measured using bypass type
electromagnetic flow meter and safety action is taken on power to flow ratio. These provisions
ensure that there are at least two diverse safety parameters to shut down the reactor safely for
each design basis event. 10 SCRAM parameters from core monitoring systems and heat transport

°l
Section 1.2.6 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.O/J 9.02.04

1 .16 1.General Description of Plant

systems are connected to plant protection system to automatically shutdown the reactor in case
of any abnormal event.
The reactor is designed to operate as a base load station and the power is controlled manually.
The squirrel cage induction motors of PSP and SSP are fed from current source inverters. The
voltage and frequency of the power supply to the motors are varied to change the pump speed
and the sodium flow by solid state variable frequency drive, which has a better efficiency and
speed regulation of ±l rpm. Automatic control loops have been provided to maintain constant
steam temperature and pressure at the inlet to the turbine over the power range of 20-100 % P .
A separate backup control room is provided for the unlikely situation of non-availability of main
control room to enable shut down of the reactor, to maintain it in a prolonged sub-critical state
and to ensure core cooling.
Sodium leak results in fire and smoke formation affecting visibility. For early detection of
sodium leaks, wire type leak detectors for single walled pipes, spark plug leak detectors/mutual
induction type detectors for double walled pipes and vessels and sodium ionization detectors in
closed cells and cabins have been provided. Mutual inductance type level probes are used for
continuous as well as discrete sodium level measurements in the reactor pool and other sodium
tanks. For SG tube leak detection, one 'Hydrogen in sodium' detector (HLD) is provided at the
outlet of each SG module and an additional HLD is provided in the common header which
collects cold sodium leaving the four SG modules in each secondary loop. Two 'Hydrogen in
Argon' detectors are installed in the cover gas space of surge tank for detection of leak during
low temperature operation. Acoustic leak detectors are installed at various locations on the outer
shell of SG which provide additional information.

1.2.7 RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

The radioactive waste management system collects and temporarily stores the liquid and solid
wastes generated in the plant and periodically transfers it to Centralised Waste Management
Facility (CWMF) located 1 km from the plant for safe storage/disposal. The gaseous waste is
handled in the plant itself.
Liquid wastes generated while washing CSA (60 m3) and decontamination of sodium wetted
components (250 m3 ) are collected in storage tanks and pumped to CWMF. Category I
potentially active detergent waste (Activity level (A) < 3.7 x 10 4 Bq/m3 ; 38 m3 /d) and
Category II active non-chemical waste effluents (3.7 x 104<A<3.7 x 107; 30 m3/d) are discharged
to the sea under supervision of CWMF after dilution with the condenser cooling water. The
gaseous effluents are collected, stored, if necessary and released through the stack. The primary
source of radioactive gaseous waste is the release from reactor cover gas. A cover gas
purification system (CGPS) having activated charcoal bed at cryogenic temperature is provided
to adsorb the gaseous fission products released by failed fuel pins (gas leakers) in the core. The
estimated total annual airborne radioactivity release to the environment with CGPS in operation
is less than 34 TBq. The solid radioactive waste system provides means for collecting and storing
temporarily the solid wastes which consists of mainly discarded active components, spent fuel
cooling circuit resin cartridges and filters, cotton wastes and rags, prior to transportation to
CWMF.
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.O/J 9,02.04 Section 1.3
1. General Description of Plant 1.17
1.3 TECHNICAL DATA
Important technical data is summarised in table 1.2.

Table 1.2 : Technical Data

1. GENERAL
Reactor thermal power MWt 1250
Electrical output (gross/net) MWe 500/470
Fuel PuO2 -UO2
Coolant Sodium
Concept of Primary Na circuit Pool
No. of primary sodium pumps 2
No. of Intermediate Heat Exchangers 4
Reactor coolant inlet temp K(°C) 670 (397)
Reactor coolant outlet temp K(°C) 820 (547)
No. of secondary loops 2
Steam temp, at HP turbine inlet K(°C) 763 (490)
Steam pressure at HP turbine inlet MPa 16.7
Gross thermal efficiency % 40
Plant life y 40
2. CORE
2.1 GENERAL
Type of core Homogeneous
Active core height m 1
Core pressure drop m of Na 60
Equivalent core diameter mm 1970
Active core volume 1 2857
No. of enrichment zones 2
Pu enrichment Zone I/Zone II wt % 20.7/27.7
Fuel inventory in active core (PuO2-UO2) t 9.15
Max. fuel bumup GWd/t 100 (initially)
Max. radiation damage dpa 85
Max. fuel residence time d 560
Refuelling interval efpd 185
Total Na flow through core t/s 6.8
Blanket material Depleted UO2
Absorber material B4C enriched in
B-10

Ib
Section 1.3 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.O/19.02.04 1.

1.18 General Description of Plant

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

Clad and Wrapper material 20% CW D9

Plutonium inventory t 2.02
Blanket inventory (axial/radial) t 6.0/15.7
Breeding ratio 1.04
Reactivity worth of CSR/DSR System pem 10541/4153

2.2 FUEL SUBASSEMBLY 217

No. of pins in SA
Pin OD x thk x length mm 6.6/0.45/2580
Hexcan width across flats x thickness mm 131.3 x 3.2
Fuel smeared density % 83
Max. linear heat rating T.D.
W/cm 450
Subassembly length mm 4500
Max coolant flow kg/s 36
2.3 CONTROL AND SAFETY ROD SUBASSEMBLY
19
No. of pins in each SA
Pin OD x thk mm 22.4 x 0.5
Absorber material length mm 1110
Quantity of B4C in each rod kg 11.8
Pellet density % 90
B-10 enrichment T.D.
% 65
Pin max. linear power W/cm 750
2.4 DIVERSE SAFETY ROD SUBASSEMBLY 19
No. of pins in each SA
Pin OD x thk Absorber mm 21.2 x 0.5
material length Quantity of mm 1010
B4C in each rod Pellet density kg 10.3
B-10 enrichment % 90
T.D.
% 67
3. REACTOR ASSEMBLY
3.1 MAIN VESSEL
Material
OD (Cylindncal Shell) x lit. SS 316 LN
Thickness (cylindrical shell) m 12.9 x 12.9
Mass mm 25 5
t 135
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section 1.3

1. General Description of Plant 1,19

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

3.2 S AFETY V ESSEL

Material SS 316 LN
O.D (Cylindrical Shell) x ht m 13.54 x 12.87
Thickness (cylindrical shell) mm 15
Mass t 110.6
3.3 CORE SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Material SS 316 LN
Height mm 1600
Thickness mm 30
Mass t 44.8
3.4 GRID PLATE

Material SS 316 LN
Diameter m 6.8
Mass t 80
3.5 INNER VESSEL

Material SS 316 LN
O.D of upper cylindrical shell m 12.2
I.D of lower cylindrical shell m 6.32
Height m 9.11
Thickness (upper & lower shells) mm 15/20
Mass t 61
3.6 ROOF SLAB

Material, structural/shielding CS (A48P2)/concrete

Diameter x height m 12.9 x 1.8
Thickness mm 30
Mass, structural material/shielding material 210/270
Support
Type Suspended
Material CS (A48P2)
Dia x height mm 13520 x 1500
Thickness mm 30
Mass t 21
Section ! .3 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/1 9.02.04

1.20 1. General Description of Plant

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

3.7 ROTATABLE PLUGS (LRP & SRP)
No. of plugs 2
Material, structural/shielding CS (A48P2)/concret
Shell Diameter (LRP/SRP) m 6.36 / 4.22
. Height m 1.8
Thickness (LRP/SRP) mm 30/20
Mass (LRP/SRP) :
i. Structural steel t 50.5 / 32.3
ii. Shielding material t 60.5 / 32.0
Seals -
Inflatable
Bearings Single large diamete
ball
3.8 CONTROL PLUG
Material, structural SS 316 LN
Material, shielding SS plates
Overall diameter x height 2.52 x 7.76
Mass t 54
3.9 FAILED FUEL LOCATION MODULE
No. of modules 3
Scanning cycle time min 24
Detection technique DND
3.10 CSRDM
Number
Free fall time including response time of
electromagnets s <1
Travel speed Dropping mm/s 2
mechanism Mass (each) Deenergising electromagnets
3.11 DSRDM t 1.2
Number
Free fall time including response time of 3
electromagnets
Travel speed Dropping s <1
mechanism Mass (each) mm/s 4
Deenergising electromagnets
t 0.8
 PFRR/PSAR/Rev.O/19.02,04 Section 1.3

1. General Description of Plant 1,21

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

4. COMPONENT HANDLING

4.1 C ORE COMPONENT HANDLING

4.1.1 General
Reactor state during fuel handling shut down
Fuel handling temperature In-vessel K (°C) 473 (200)
handling Two rotatable plugs with one
transfer arm
Ex-vessel handling Rotatable shielded leg with single
transfer pot
Temporary storage of spent fuel In-vessel
Number of in-vessel storage locations 156
Cooling mode during handling Natural convection

4.1.2 InVessel Transfer Machine (IVTM)

Type of mechanism Transfer arm
Orientation during handling SA auto-orientation
Maximum pull kN 15
Hoist speed mm/s 40
Material of construction SS 304 LN
Max. decay power per fuel SA kW 90
Min. cooling time after shutdown h 18
Diameter of handling canal mm 320
Mass t 25
4.1.3 Inclined Fuel Transfer Machine (IFTM)
Number of transfer positions (in-vessel/ex-vessel) 1/1
Number of transfer pots 1
Atmosphere inside the mechanism Argon gas SS
Material of construction 304 LN
Maximum decay power of spent fuel SA kW 5
4.1.4 Fuel Storage (Outside)
Total fresh fuel storage positions 56 711
Total number of spent fuel storage positions Water pool
Type of storage for spent fuel DM water
Coolant for spent fuel storage

n
Section 13 PFBTt/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04

1.22 '. General Description of Plant

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd,

5. PRIMARY SODIUM CIRCUIT

5.1 GENERAL
Temperature rise across core K 150
K(°C) 817(544)
IHX inlet temperature
K(°C) 667(394)
IHX outlet temperature
MPa 0.63 (max)
Sodium pressure at inlet to grid plate
t/s 7
Flow through grid plate
t 1150
Inventory of sodium
Ex-Vessel
Sodium purification
5.2 PRIMARY SODIUM PUMP Centrifugal free surface, single
Type of pump , stage.
top suction
SS 304 LN
Material of construction
Cu m/s 4.13 (net)
Flow per pump
mlc 75
Head developed
rpm 590
Nominal speed
Nominal shaft power consumption MW 3.2
t 60
Mass of pump without motor & flywheel
5.3 IHX 2 in parallel
No. of IHX per secondary loop
Rating/IHX MWt 314.7
SS 316 LN
Material of construction
shell
Primary sodium side
t/s 1.649/1.45
Sodium flow rate per IHX (Primary/secondary)
mm 19 x 0.8
Tube diameter x thickness
3600
No. of tubes
m 2.52 x 18
Size, flange dia x height
t 43
Mass per IHX
6. SECONDARY SODIUM CIRCUIT

6.1 GENERAL
No. of loops 2
System capacity per loop VlWt 626.5
No. of steam generators per loop 4
No. of pumps per loop 1
Inventory of Na per loop i. 205
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.O/l 9.02.04 Section i.3

/. General Description of Plant Table

1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

6.2 SECONDARY SODIUM PUMP
Type of pump Centrifugal, free surface, single
bottom suction
Material of construction SS 304 LN
Location cold - leg
Flow Cu m/s 3.34
Head developed mlc 65
Nominal speed rpm 960
Nominal shaft power consumption MW 2.33
Mass per pump without motor and flywheel t 15
6.3 STEAM GENERATOR
Concept Integrated Once through with steam
reheat
Type Counter-current, vertical, shell and
tube type heat exchanger with
expansion bend in each tube
Shell side fluid Sodium
Tube side fluid Feed water - Steam
No. of SG per loop 4
Material Mod 9Cr-lMo(Gr 91)
Thermal power per SG MWt 158
Na inlet/outlet temp K (°C) 798(525)/628(355)
Water inlet/steam outlet temp K (°C) 508(235)/766(493)
Tube OD x WT mm 17.2 x 2.3
No. of tubes 547
Sodium flow rate kg/s 725
Feed water flow rate kg/s 70.3
Nominal sodium side pressure MPa 0.78
Steam pressure at SG outlet MPa 17.2
Overall height m 26
Weight of module t 33
7. STEAM-WATER CIRCUIT
Concept Modified Rankine cycle with
regenerative feed heating
No. of cylinders in Turbine 3 (1 - Single flow HP, 1 - Dual flow
IP, 1 - Dual flow LP)
Section 1.3 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04

1,24 /. General Description of Plant

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

No. of feedwater Heaters 6 (3 LP heaters, 1 Deaerator,
2 x 50 % HP heaters)
No. of Condensate Extraction Pumps 3 x 50%
No. of Boiler Feed Pumps 2 x 50% turbine driven,
1 x 50% motor driven
Type of Condenser Cooling Once through using sea water
Heat removed in condenser MWt 755
Condenser tube material No. of Titanium
CCW pumps and type Flow per
pump 9.44
2 x 50% concrete volute
cu.m/s
8. SAFETY GRADE DECAY HEAT REMOVAL CIRCUIT
8.1 GENERAL
No. of loops 4
Coolant Sodium
Type of circuit Passive
(natural circulation)
Heat sink Air
8.2
SODIUM/SODIUM HEAT EXCHANGER (DHX) Hot pool sodium
Location No. of 4 (2 designs)
DHX Rating per unit Material 8
Straight tube design DHX MWt SS 316 LN
mm
Size, Flange dia x overall Height
mm 830 x 11350
Shell diameter
t
Mass per heat exchanger 520
3.6
8.3 SODIUM/AIR HEAT EXCHANGER (AHX)
Location
Steam generator
Rating per unit MWt building
No. of Heat-Exchangers 8
Material 4 (2 designs)
Serpentine design AHX Mod 9Cr-lMo (Gr.91)
Size, Length x Width x Height'
"Mass per AHX (including casing) 5.45 x 5.15 x 4.6
20
 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.0/19.02.04 Section1.3

1. Genera! Description of Plant 1

Rectangular
Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.
42.1 x 40.1 x 54.8 m
9. REACTOR CONTAINMENT BUILDING height above FFL
Shape -500
m (below atmosphere)
Size 25
0.1
Pressure during normal operation Pa

Design pressure during DBA Leak rate under DBA kPa V

% /h
10. STEAM GENERATOR BUILDING
Shape Rectangular
Size m
41 x 19.6 x 30 m
height above FFL
11. FUEL BUILDING
Shape Rectangular
m
Size 60 x 20 x 14.8/32 m
height above FFL
12. BOP AUXILIARY SYSTEMS
Service water heat load DM plant capacity MW
23.5
Package boiler capacity Compressed air plant Cu m/h
2 x 48
capacity Nitrogen plant capacity Cu m/h
35
Nm-Vh
13. ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM 4 x 1000
Nm3/h
30
13.1 GENERATOR
Rated output Rated terminal voltage Rated MVA/MW 588/500
frequency Power factor Synchronous speed kv :. 21
Hz 50
0.85
rpm 3000
Section 1.3 PFBR/PSAR/Rev.O/f 9.02.04

1.28 1. General Description of Plant

Table 1.2 : Technical Data—contd.

13.2 TRANSFORMERS Rating Voltage rating (kV)

(MVA)
i) Main transformer (3, 1 Ph units) 3x 21 / 235
ii) Station transformer 200
63 220 / 6.9
iii) Unit transformer (2 units) 31.5 21 / 6.9
iv) Auxiliary Transformers - Class IV 10x2 6.6/0.433
2 x 1.6 6.6 / 0.433
- Class III 4x2 6.6 1 0.433
2x1 6.6 1 0.433

13.3 POWER SUPPLY For kV/V 6.6 & 415

station loads Diesei
generator No x MW 4 x 2.4
Instrumentation & control backup DC - Battery & DG
supply V 48 / 220
Single phase AC supply 48 V DC. V 240
battery (2 systems) 220 V DC battery No x Ah 4 x 600, 4 x 200
(2 systems) 240 V AC UPS battery No x Ah 2 x 1500, 4 x 300
No x Ah 4 x 750