Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water

Glushkov, E S; Ermoshin, M Yu; Ponomarev-Stepnoi,; Skorlygin, V V

doi:10.1007/BF02408105

Title: Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water

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Abstract

An accident analysis for a Russian Topaz-2 nuclear reactor is summarized. The accident scenario involves emergency return from orbit, severe damage to reactor structural elements, and subsequent falling of the reactor core into the ocean. The thermionic converter reactor, used in spacecraft, has a large neutron leakage which decreases when water enters the inner core cavity. Preliminary results of numerical modeling, summarized in the article, show that the possible consequences of the hypothetical accidental submersion are limited. 8 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.

Authors:: Glushkov, E S; Ermoshin, M Yu; Ponomarev-Stepnoi,; Skorlygin, V V

Publication Date:: Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI Identifier:: 443782

Resource Type:: Journal Article

Journal Name:: Atomic Energy (New York)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 76; Journal Issue: 6; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1994; TN: Translated from Atomnaya Energiya; 76: No. 6, 465-470(Jun 1994)

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 22 NUCLEAR REACTOR TECHNOLOGY; 21 NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; SPACE PROPULSION REACTORS; REACTOR ACCIDENTS; THERMIONIC CONVERTERS; TOPAZ REACTOR; REACTOR SAFETY; REENTRY; WATER INFLUX; NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems

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                    Glushkov, E S, Ermoshin, M Yu, Ponomarev-Stepnoi,, and Skorlygin, V V. Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water.  United States: N. p., 1994. 
        Web.  doi:10.1007/BF02408105.

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                    Glushkov, E S, Ermoshin, M Yu, Ponomarev-Stepnoi,, & Skorlygin, V V. Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02408105

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                    Glushkov, E S, Ermoshin, M Yu, Ponomarev-Stepnoi,, and Skorlygin, V V. 1994.  
        "Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02408105.

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@article{osti_443782,

  title        = {Assessment of possible consequences of a hypothetical reactivity accident associated with a {open_quotes}Topaz-2{close_quotes} spacecraft reactor entering water},

  author       = {Glushkov, E S and Ermoshin, M Yu and Ponomarev-Stepnoi, and Skorlygin, V V},

  abstractNote = {An accident analysis for a Russian Topaz-2 nuclear reactor is summarized. The accident scenario involves emergency return from orbit, severe damage to reactor structural elements, and subsequent falling of the reactor core into the ocean. The thermionic converter reactor, used in spacecraft, has a large neutron leakage which decreases when water enters the inner core cavity. Preliminary results of numerical modeling, summarized in the article, show that the possible consequences of the hypothetical accidental submersion are limited. 8 refs., 2 figs., 2 tabs.},

  doi          = {10.1007/BF02408105},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/443782},
  journal      = {Atomic Energy (New York)},
number       = 6,

  volume       = 76,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},

  month        = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}

}

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