Containment vessel

Japanese: 格納容器 - かくのうようき

A highly airtight, pressure-resistant container that contains the main equipment around the reactor. In reality, it is more of a structure than a container. In a pressurized water reactor, the containment vessel contains the pressure vessel, pressurizer, steam generator, etc. In a boiling water reactor, the containment vessel contains the pressure vessel, recirculation pump, etc. It is airtight so that even if radioactive material leaks from these main equipment, it will not leak out into the outdoors. Nuclear reactors in Japan and the United States always have containment vessels, but there are also reactors in the former Soviet Union and other countries that do not have containment vessels. The piping that sends steam to the power generation turbines penetrates the wall of the containment vessel. In a boiling water reactor, radioactive cooling water passes through the core and becomes high-pressure steam, which passes through this piping. Therefore, isolation valves are installed just inside and outside the wall, and are designed to close immediately in the event of an accident.

(Koshi Atsumi, Asahi Shimbun reporter / 2008)

Source : "Chiezo" published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Co., Ltd. About Chiezo

Japanese:

原子炉周辺の主要機器を格納する密閉性・耐圧性の高い容器。実際には容器というより建造物。格納容器内にあるのは、加圧水型炉では圧力容器、加圧器、蒸気発生器など。沸騰水型炉では圧力容器、再循環ポンプなど。放射性物質がこれら主要機器から外に漏れた場合にも、野外にまでは出ないような気密構造になっている。日本や米国の原子炉には必ずあるが、旧ソ連など、格納容器のない原子炉もある。蒸気を発電タービンに送る配管が格納容器の壁を貫通している。沸騰水型炉では、炉心を通って放射能を帯びた冷却水が高圧蒸気となってこの配管を通る。そこで、壁のすぐ内側と外側に隔離弁が設けられ、事故時には即座に閉まる仕組みになっている。

(渥美好司朝日新聞記者／ 2008年)

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