HOW THE PBMR WORKS

he PBMR is a helium-cooled, graphite-moderated high temperature reactor

(HTR).

The PBMR has a vertical steel reactor pressure vessel (RPV) 6,2 m inner diameter and about 27
m high. The Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) contains a metallic core barrel, which supports the
annular pebble fuel core and the graphite neutron reflector in the centre and on the outside of this
fuel annulus. Vertical borings in the centre and outer reflectors are provided for the reactivity
central elements. Two diverse systems are provided for shutting the reactor down, one being
central rods inserted into the borings in the side reflector and the other being small neutron
absorbing spheres which are dropped into borings in the central reflector.
The PBMR uses silicon carbide and pyrolitic carbon coated particles of enriched uranium dioxide
encased in graphite to form a fuel sphere or pebble of 60 diameter. Helium is used as the coolant
and energy transfer medium to a closed thermodynamic cycle gas turbine-compressor and
generator system. When fully loaded, the core would contains approximately 452 000 fuel
spheres.
To remove the heat generated by the nuclear reaction, helium coolant enters the reactor vessel at
a temperature of about 500C and at a pressure of 9 MPa. It then flows down between the hot
fuel spheres, after which it leaves the bottom of the vessel, having been heated to a temperature
of about 900 C. The heated gas drives a power -turbine-compressor mounted on a single shaft
directly. This shaft is coupled to the generator through a speed reduction gearbox.
The coolant exits the power turbine at about 500 C and at a pressure of about 3 MPa. It then
passes through a high efficiency recuperator. After the recuperator the gas is cooled and
recompressed in two stages after which it returns to the reactor core after being reheated to 500
C in the secondary side of the recuperator.
The process cycle used is a standard Brayton cycle with a closed circuit water-cooled intercooler
and pre-cooler. The significance of the high pressure and high temperature of the helium coolant
lies in its superior thermal efficiency. While a typical LWR has a thermal efficiency (heat in,
electric power out) of 33%, a thermal efficiency of more than 40% in the basic PBMR design.
Increases in fuel performances and materials technology leading to higher operating
temperatures, offer the prospect of increasing the efficiency to 50%.
Fuel is removed from the bottom of reactor, transported to the top of the reactor, checked for
burn-up, and re-introduced into the reactor if the target burn-up has not been reached or routed to
the spent fuel tanks. All this is carried out while the reactor is at full power. For every fuel element
discharged to the spent fuel storage tanks, a fresh fuel element is introduced into the core.
The aim is to operate uninterrupted for six years before scheduled maintenance is performed.
However, for the first demonstration module, a certain amount of interim shutdowns will be
required for planned evaluation of component/system performance. During a shutdown there are
a variety of options to consider, namely system shutdown in a thermally hot condition or in a cold
condition.
Shutdown will be done by inserting the control rods. Start -up is effected by making the reactor
critical, and by using nuclear heat-up of the core and removing this heat in the power conversion
unit by motoring the turbo-generator. At a specified temperature, the Brayton cycle is initiated and
the system becomes self-sustaining.
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The Module Building which comprises the entire structure that houses the power plant (excluding
the generator), is designed to withstand significant external forces such as aircraft impacts,
tornados or explosions caused by saboteurs.
The thickness of the reinforced concrete roof and walls (above ground level) of this structure is 1
m. Within the module building, is the reinforced concrete containment or citadel that encloses the
reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and the power conversion unit (PCU). The thickness of the walls
surrounding the RPV is 2,2 m. The PCU comprises the high - and low-pressure turbo-units, power
turbine generator, a recuperator and coolers.