Safety assessment of pressure vessel components for Reaktor Daya Eksperimental

The 10 MW Indonesia's Reaktor Daya Eksperimental (RDE) which is to be constructed in Serpong Nuclear Zone, Puspiptek and was firstly developed in 2014 is expected to be operational in 2022/2023. The RDE is expected to be a landmark to Indonesia for a nuclear power technology provider in the imminent futurity. Till the end of 2018, the RDE is focused on the basic design including its reactor pressure vessel (RPV). This research paper presents mechanical stresses assessment on basic design of RPV structure components for RDE in ensuring the safety design targets of RDE which are no dangerous radioactive release to the workers, populations, and environments even in the worst accident. Results are presented from the structural stresses assessment under following conditions such as thermal loading, operating pressure, and mechanical loads. The geometric models and dimensions of pressure vessel components within the basic design calculations had been performed by using computer code RPV_RDE.exe in the previous work. These components were designed in accordance with ASME code specification for SA516-70 carbon steel plate. In this work, finite element analysis is applied to assess the occurred structure mechanical stresses upon those RPV components. This work recommends that the RPV components of RDE are safe in the basic design calculations by analysis approach as described in model simulations.