Computer Simulation of Hypothetical Criticality Accidents in Aqueous Fissile Solutions
The purpose of this paper is to describe recent developments in computer simulation of hypothetical criticality accidents in aqueous fissile solutions of uranium and plutonium such as might be encountered in fuel fabrication and reprocessing operations. Models for reactivity shutdown mechanisms and equations of state have been combined to permit estimates of fission yield, inertial pressure, and kinetic energy for a wide range of pulse sizes and time scales. Improvements to previously published models are reported along with some recent applications. Information obtained from pulsed solution assemblies (KEWB, CRAC, SILENE, and SHEBA) and from past criticality accidents was used in the development of computer models. Applications include slow events lasting many hours (hypothetical undetected laboratory accidents) and large-yield millisecond pulses in which evolution of radiolytic gas may be important (severe accidents and pulsed reactors).
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- OSTI ID:
- 5923657
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-910603-; CODEN: TANSA
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Vol. 63; Conference: Annual Meeting of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) , Orlando, FL (United States), 2-6 Jun 1991; ISSN 0003-018X
- Publisher:
- American Nuclear Society
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING
CRITICALITY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BUBBLES
COMPUTER CODES
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSION YIELD
KEWB REACTOR
KINETIC ENERGY
OPERATION
REACTIVITY
SAFETY
SILENE REACTOR
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FLUID FUELED REACTORS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
LIQUID HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
MATERIALS
MIXTURES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR REACTION YIELD
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SIMULATION
SOLUTIONS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
YIELDS
ZERO POWER REACTORS
recent developments
Computer Simulation
Hypothetical Criticality Accidents
Aqueous Fissile Solutions
Applications
Model
420203* - Engineering- Handling Equipment & Procedures
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties
050800 - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
220600 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors