An evaluation of designed passive Core Makeup Tank (CMT) for China pressurized reactor (CPR1000)

Emergency Passive Safety System (EPSS) is an innovative design to improve reliability of nuclear power plants. In this work, the EPSS consists of secondary passive residual heat removal system (PRHRS) and the reactor Core Makeup Tank (CMT) system. The PRHRS, which has been studied in our previous paper, can effectively remove the core residual heat and passively improve the inherent safety by passive methods. The designed CMT, representing the safety improvement for CPR1000, is used to inject cool boron-containing water into the primary system during the loss of coolant accident. In this study, the behaviors of EPSS and transient characteristics of the primary loop system during the Steam Generator Tube Rupture (SGTR) accident are investigated using the nuclear reactor thermal hydraulic code RELAP5/MOD3.4. The results show that the designed CMT can protect the reactor primary loop from boiling and maintain primary loop coolant in single phase state. Both PRHRS and CMT operation ensures reactor safety during the SGTR accident. Results reported in this paper show that the designed CMT is a further safety improvement for CPR1000.

► Only PRHRS is not sufficient to maintain reactor safety in case of SGTR accident.
► The Core Makeup Tank (CMT) is designed for CPR1000.
► Joint operation of PRHRS and CMT can keep reactor safety during the SGTR transient.
► CMT is a vital supplement for CPR1000 passive safety system design.