Influence of seismic isolation on the earthquake response of internal components in a fast reactor

Nuclear energy is being considered as a frontrunner towards achieving the zero carbon goal. A sustainable use of nuclear energy is possible when a reactor design is deployed across regions with varying seismic hazard. Seismic isolation technology has been proven to reduce earthquake loads in the structures, and is being seen as a key towards the standardized reactor designs. This paper investigates the influence of seismic isolation on the response of a generic fast reactor (GFR) similar to the prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) currently under commissioning at Kalpakkam, India. This reactor comprises a head-supported main vessel that houses other reactor components (e.g., core, inner vessel). The major vessels of the reactor are partially filled with liquid sodium. In order to understand the influence of seismic isolation, simplified lumped mass stick models (LMSMs) for the GFR components were developed. These models were based on static analysis results obtained using corresponding finite element (FE) models. The component models were assembled to generate the LMSM and FE model for the GFR. The LMSM was verified through the comparison of dynamic properties obtained using the FE model, and through the comparison of response-history analysis results. These models considered fluid masses lumped at respective shells, thereby ignoring the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) effects. A representative system was analyzed with and without considering FSI effects. These effects did not influence acceleration response significantly. Fixed-base (FB) and isolated base (IB) configurations of the LMSM for the GFR were subjected to a series of response-history analyses. Seismic isolation led to a substantial reduction (e.g., up to 10 times) in the median floor accelerations, particularly for lower sliding friction and longer sliding period. The floor spectral ordinates for the IB configuration of GFR subjected to 1.00 g shaking were less than that for the FB configuration of GFR subjected to 0.25 g shaking at most periods, suggesting that the PFBR can be deployed at locations with seismic hazard much greater than that at Kalpakkam if suitable isolation systems are used.