Overview of ABWR Safety
Features
INPRO Dialogue Forum November 19-23, 2013
J. Alan Beard Principal Engineer
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GE Hitachi nuclear alliance and businesses
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•Nuclear Power Plants: ABWR,
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BWR legacy around the world
Dodewaard - Netherlands
- K6/K7 - Japan
- KKM - Switzerland
Dresden 1 – USA
KRB - Germany 
Lungmen - Taiwan 
Santa María de Garoña - Spain 
Vallecitos – USA 
Garigliano - Italy 
Laguna Verde - Mexico 
Tarapur 1&2 – India
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Recent project experience
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 6/7 ABWR
COD 1996/1997
Hamaoka-5 ABWR
COD 2005
Shika-2 ABWR
Continuously building for 58 years
COD 2006
Images copyright TEPCO, Hokuriku Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, and J-Power; Provided by Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy
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Current project status
Ohma ABWR
Ohma 1
• 38% complete
Shimane 3
• 94% complete
Under Construction
Shimane-3 ABWR
• Approaching fuel load
Lungmen 1&2
• 94% complete • Startup and Pre-Op testing
Under Construction
Lungmen-1/2 ABWR
Continuously building for 58 years
Under Construction
Images copyright TEPCO, Hokuriku Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, and J-Power; Provided by Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy
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Copyright 2013 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy International, LLC - All rights reserved 
GE Hitachi’s new reactor portfolio
PRISM
ABWR
ESBWR
Revolutionary technology with a rich, 40-year heritage 
Evolutionary Gen III+ technology 
Operational Gen III technology 
• Lowest core damage frequency of any Generation III+ reactor 
• Passive cooling for >7 days w/o 
AC power or operator action 
• Lowest projected operations, 
maintenance and staffing costs1 
• 25% fewer pumps, valves and 
motors than active safety plants 
• Lowest core damage frequency of any Generation III reactor 
• Extensive operational 
• Passive air-cooling; no operator
or mechanical actions needed 
• The answer to the used fuel 
dilemma - can reduce nuclear waste to ~300-year radiotoxicity2 while generating electricity experience since 1996 
• Licensed in US, Taiwan & Japan 
- 1
- Claims based on the U.S. DOE commissioned ‘Study of Construction Technologies
and Schedules, O&M Staffing and Cost, and Decommissioning Costs and Funding
Requirements for Advanced Reactor Designs’ and an ESBWR staffing study
performed by a leading independent firm
- 2
- To reach the same level of radiotoxicity as natural uranium
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ABWR Basic Parameters
3,926 Megawatt core thermal power ~1,360 MWe gross
• Nominal summer rating
Reactor Recirculation with Internal Pumps
• External recirculation piping eliminated
Active safety systems
• 72 hours automated capability
Operating cycle length of 12 to 24 months
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BWR Evolution
Dresden 1
KRB
Dresden 2 
Oyster Creek 
ABWR 
ESBWR 
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Containment Evolution
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ABWR Overall Flowchart
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ECCS Systems Evolution
Typical 
Typical 
BWR/4
ABWR
RCIC 
LPCF/RHR 
BWR/5 BWR/6
HPCS 
HPCI 
ADS
LPCS LPCI LPCI 
LPCS LPCI LPCI 
HPCF 
LPCF/RHR 
HPCF 
LPCI/RHR 
LPCS 
LPCI/RHR LPCI 
RHR 
RHR 
LPCF/RHR
ADS 
ADS 
5000 
1900 
29000 
12 
High pressure capacity Low Pressure capacity 
No. of large pipes below core
Peak clad temperature (App K), °F 
2800 
42000 
12
19000 
0
1600
1100
No uncovery 
Required 
- Operator action
- Required
Automated >72
hours
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Emergency Core Cooling System
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Emergency Core Cooling
HPCF 
LPCF/RHR 
ADS
RCIC 
HPCF 
LPCF/RHR
LPCF/RHR
Core is always under water
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ABWR Reactor Core Isolation Cooling (RCIC)
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ABWR High Pressure Core Flooder (HPCF)
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ABWR Residual Heat Removal (RHR)
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Automatic Depressurization System (ADS)
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ABWR Key Design Features – Onsite AC Power
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Severe Accident Features
ABWR passive features which mitigate severe accidents:
• Inerted Containment
• Lower Drywell flood capability
• Lower Drywell special concrete & sump protection
• Suppression pool - fission
products scrubbing & retention
• Containment overpressure protection
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AC Independent Water Addition (ACIWA)
Hard piped fire water connections Seismic Category 1
On-site fire protection system connection
Truck connection
• Ties to RHR C
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Copyright 2013 GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy International, LLC - All rights reserved 
References
ABWR
Design Certification Document, Rev. 4:
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/design-cert/abwr.html#dcd
Safety Evaluation Report, NUREG-1503 and NUREG-1503 Supplement 1:
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0806/ML080670592.html
Design Certification Rule, 10CFR52 Appendix A:
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/part052/part052- appa.html
Revision 5 of the ABWR DCD can be found here:
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1100/ML110040323.html
Reference BWR (Grand Gulf NPP) NUREG-1150
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1150/
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