Reliability and vulnerability studies of the SP-100 system

A parametric analysis was carried out using SNPSAM-Mode-3 to assess the reliability and vulnerability of the SP-100 system to single and multiple failures of the thermoelectric-electromagnetic pumps. The effects of degradation of the system´s waste heat rejection, due to a partial loss of the surface area and/or the emissivity of the radiator panels, on the SP-100 operating parameters were also investigated. Results show that a partial degradation of the waste heat rejection capability of the radiator panels, although it increases the reactor and coolant temperatures, only slightly affects the system´s electric power output. For example, a 50% loss of waste heat rejection for the entire system causes the electric power to decrease by less than 18%. The results demonstrate the high reliability and resilience of the SP-100 system design with regard to either multiple failures of the pumps or partial degradation of the heat rejection capability of the radiator panels