XYLENE POWER LTD.

FNR AIR LOCKS

By Charles Rhodes, P.Eng., Ph.D.

Each FNR has four airlocks. Two airlocks are intended for transferring fuel bundles. The other two airlocks are intended for transferring other equipment such as intermediate heat exchange bundles and people. Each fuel bundle transfer airlock is designed to accept a fuel bundle transporation container. Each equipment transfer airlock has minimum internal dimensions of 10.0 m long X 1.5 m wide X 2.9 m high.

The two airlocks intended for transferring fuel bundles are equipped to interface with the 40 tonne fuel bundle shipping containers. The other two airlocks are fitted to also enable entrance and exit of suitably suited workers.

Fuel bundle transfer airlocks are pumped down to a vacuum to prevent air entry into the sodium pool space and to prevent loss of argon.

The inside airlock doors are temperature protected to prevent thermal damage to their door seals. The inside fuel bundle transfer airlock doors open onto guide trays up to 2 m wide which extend over the sodium pool by about 6 m.

The outer airlock doors must be sufficiently robust to withstand a tornado induced gauge pressure of at least 3 psi (20,000 Pa).

The inner and outer airlock doors must be interlocked so that both doors of the same airlock are never open at the same time.
 

This web page last updated December 20, 2023