Power plant liquid wastes are collected in tanks for storage prior to discharge into a specially designed servicing vessel in port. The liquid waste collection tanks are monitored. Gaseous wastes will normally be disposed of at sea through the radio mast, which contains two detectors for monitoring purposes. They are an air-particle monitor and a radio-gas monitor, and operate at all times so that gas is vented to the atmosphere. If gaseous radioactivity should rise above specified limits, the gas will be diluted to below the limit before being discharged to atmosphere.
The above monitor stations are the principal ones involved in reactor system operation. The monitors operate through a system of separate channels, with each channel responsible for a pre-selected range of activity. All detectors relay their readings to the main panel in the control room, where automatic recording and visual observation instruments are located.
Surrounded by steel, wood, concrete, the N.S. SAVANNAH reactor is safe against any credible accident.
STABILIZING BRACKET PORT AND STARBOARD POLYETHYLENE “C” DECK STEEL & REDWOOD COLLISION MAT WOOD PAD “D” DECK CONCRETE WATERTIGHT BULKHEAD REACTOR COMPARTMENT STIFFENING RINGS LEAD CONTAINMENT VESSEL COMPARTMENT BULKHEAD CONCRETE INNER BOTTOM FOUNDATIONS FORWARD
Portable monitoring equipment, samplers, and other health physics survey equipment are provided for access, survey, and maintenance monitoring.
REACTOR CONTROL AND SAFETY SYSTEMS
The design of the control system is such that a malfunction which leads to an abnormal withdrawal rate of the rods will not result in a dangerous condition. Studies indicate that the minimum reactor period resulting from maximum withdrawal of the rods is not less than 30 seconds. The control system is designed to maintain the net reactivity insertion always less than the delayed neutron fraction.
The entire reactor system is protected by the safety system. This system causes the reactor to terminate power production if a dangerous operating condition exists. The safety system also contains interlocks which prevent actions which would otherwise jeopardize the reactor system.
The control and safety systems are capable of protecting the reactor system from damage due to any credible accident except a major leak in the primary loop.