Analysis of the reliability of the shutdown heat removal system for the CRBR

An analysis of the reliability of the Shutdown Heat Removal System (SHRS) for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor (CRBR) was performed using Markov analysis models. Seven initiating events were considered. The system description and the failure and repair data were based on the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report of the CRBR. The study identified several areas to which the reliability of the SHRS is sensitive. To achieve high reliability shutdown heat removal, improvements in these areas or verification of their adequacy is required. These areas included the availability of the Auxiliary Feedwater System, the capability of the SHRS to operate on one-loop natural-circulation and the low probability of the failure of two heat transport loops causing the reactor to shut down.