FYI: The EPR is equipped with what Areva refers to as a “core catcher.” If the fuel cladding and reactor vessel systems and associated piping become molten, these first two safety mechanisms the molten core will fall into a core catcher which holds the molten material and has the ability to cool it. This, in turn, protects the third barrier, containment.
On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 2:53 PM, Jed Rothwell <jedrothw...@gmail.com> wrote: > Alain Sepeda wrote: > > One of the characteristic of moder reactors like EPR (Areva) is that they >> can self cool without external energy. >> > > Sure. There are several designs that use passive cooling. The pebble bed > reactor is another example. But none have been commercialized yet. The > designs are radically different from present-day reactors. > > - Jed > >
