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Title: Reactor materials program process water piping: K Reactor indirect failure probability

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6700921

The hypothetical maximum rate loss of coolant accident (LOCA) for the Savannah River Production Reactors is the abrupt double-ended guillotine break (DEGB) of a large process water pipe. This accident is not considered credible in light of the low applied stresses and the inherent ductility of the piping material. The Reactor Materials Program was initiated to provide the technical basis for an alternate, credible design basis accident. The major thrust of this program is to develop an alternate maximum rate LOCA by deterministic means. Additionally, the probability of a DEGB is being determined; to show that in addition to being mechanistically implausible, a DEGB is also highly improbable. The probability of a DEGB of the piping has been evaluated in two parts: failure by direct means, and indirectly-induced failure. Failure by direct means can be credibly postulated to occur as an undetected crack grows to the point of instability, causing a large pipe break. Indirect failure of the piping can be triggered by an earthquake which causes other reactor components or the reactor building to fall on the piping or pull it from its anchor points. The indirect failure of the piping in K reactor is the subject of this report. 5 refs.

Research Organization:
Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-76SR00001
OSTI ID:
6700921
Report Number(s):
DPST-88-546; ECS-LOCA-11; ON: DE89002459
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English