Year
1976
Abstract
A safeguards-system for pebble-bed reactors is described. This safeguards-system is explained in detail using the example of the 300 MWe THTR-reactor being built in Germany at present. Continuous loading and unloading of the core during the operation is typical for this reactor. In order to reduce the inspectioneffort as much as possible the system will be based on the extensive application of containment and surveillance measures. Material balance will be carried out by means of automatic counting of the fuel element pebbles to be introduced into the core and those leaving the core. Building construction measures will ensure that all fuel-elements will have to pass the pebble counter at the entrance and exit of the reactor. The continuous operation of the facility and the counter will provide a continuous supervision of the physical inventory. The safeguards-system proposed will render a secure and complete supervision of the flow of the fissile material of the THTR-reactor possible.