The Constructability Analysis of AP1000 Containment Vessel Bottom Head

Nuclear power is a proven, safe, plentiful and clean source of power generation, and AP1000 is the only Generation III+ reactor to receive Design Certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). One of the major features of this advanced reactor is the utilization of the passive safety systems and a steel Containment Vessel (CV). As the boundary isolated to keep the radioactive waste to release to outside and also the medium to transfer the heat, CV is a mainly part of the Passive Containment Cooling (PCS) System, which is the key to move the resident heat from the core to the air. The CV is made up with Sub-Assemblies, such as Bottom Head (CVBH), 1st Ring, 2nd Ring, 3rd Ring, and Top Head (CVTH), which are assembled with steel plates. So to build the Containment Vessel on site, we have to assemble each individual part with steel plates fabricated in shop first, transport the Sub-Assembly to Nuclear Island (NI) and lift them in place. Right now, the first AP1000 in the world is under construction at Sanmen, China. Based on the statement above, the construction of CVBH of the 1st AP1000 is a notable achievement and implementation without experience proven, the constructability analysis about work sequence, detailed logic, activity duration, production rate and improvement of them during the process is worthy to study.