Source-term and building-wake consequence modeling for the GODIVA IV reactor at Los Alamos National Laboratory
The objectives of this work were to evaluate the consequences of a postulated accident to on-site security personnel stationed near the facility during operations of the Godiva IV critical assembly and to identify controls needed to protest these personnel in case of an extreme criticality excursion equivalent to a design-basis accident (DBA). Godiva IV, one of several critical assemblies operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), is located within the Kiva III facility at the Technical Area 18 (TA-18) complex. The TA-18 area is located in a canyon surrounded by complex terrain features such as a steep adjacent hillside and tall stands of fir trees. This analysis was motivated by the need to evaluate the air concentrations and radiological exposure consequences to on-site personnel (guards) located within 40 to 100 m of the facility. GODIVA IV is a highly enriched {sup 235}U metal-fuel, fast-burst assembly. The DBA was defined to be a $1.40 critical pulse, which leads to an approximate burst yield of 1.3 x 10{sup 18} fissions (or {approximately}41.6 MJ). The DBA is postulated to lead to partial melt of the reactor assembly ({approximately}10% of the fuel), with subsequent release of fission products to the environment. The authors present the methodology and results of the source-term calculations, building ventilation rates, air concentrations, and consequence calculations that were performed using a multidisciplinary approach with several phenomenology models. Identification of controls needed to mitigate the consequences to near-field receptors is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20005796
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 81; Conference: American Nuclear Society 1999 Winter Meeting, Long Beach, CA (US), 11/14/1999--11/18/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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