U.S. Reactor Containment Technology: a Compilation of Current Practice in Analysis, Design, Construction, Test, and Operation, Volume 1 Page: VIII

                                
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analytical techniques frequently involved in containment analyses. Chap-
ter 7 describes existing containment systems; Chapter 8 gives design con-
siderations; Chapter 9 describes auxiliary components; and Chapter 10 lists
the performance tests required. In Chapter 11 the identifiable costs as-
sociated with various containment systems and parts thereof are tabulated.
Chapter 12 presents a resume of current research pertinent to all aspects
of containment.
Limitations and Use
At the present stage in the development of both reactor and contain-
ment technology, it is not possible to develop a definitive relationship
between reactor type, power level, and containment system that can be
employed to identify the most economical containment system for use with
a given reactor installation. Examination of the trends discussed here,
as well as considerations of the obvious points of compatibility and in-
compatibility between various reactor and containment types, will, however,
point to combinations of interest. The cost information in Chapter 11 is
of limited value because of the uncertainty in the cost accounts that were
available, the apparent wide range in costs for similar systems, and the
many subtle differences in superficially similar reactor installations.
Trends do become evident with data presented here, although these trends
may have been apparent anyway. The most pertinent advice that can be
offered regarding costs of different containment systems for a given ap-
plication is that, assuming no obvious mismatch (see Table 1.12) and that
the safety provided by each is acceptable to the regulatory authorities,
the best containment system (i.e., the least expensive) must be determined
from a cost analysis of a fairly detailed design of two and sometimes more
arrangements.
It should also be appreciated that most of the containment information
reported here has been derived from a reactor technology that has been and
still is oriented toward a water-cooled and -moderated reactor. It is not
surprising that starting with this background, the containment systems pro-
vided for other types of reactor are adaptations of, and subject to, much
of the same rationale as those that developed out of the technology of
water-cooled power reactors. It is quite conceivable that starting from
another frame of reference, for example, the gas-cooled graphite-moderated
reactors, which form the basis of the United Kingdom nuclear power program,
the accepted containment systems might have been considerably different.
It is also possible that they might have afforded comparable protection.
The containment analyst is also cautioned against regarding the cri-
teria and designs described here as being fixed. The past several years
have witnessed many innovations in containment design, increasing expendi-
tures in containment research and development, and the establishment of
the first reactor siting criteria. The present rapid pace in the develop-
ment of containment technology cannot help but have significant ramifica-
tions in containment design and criteria.
The reader is also cautioned not to regard the inclusion of any infor-
mation here as giving that information any official sanction as far as the
AEC Divisions of Compliance or Reactor Licensing are concerned. Even in