Metal-fueled HWR (heavy water reactors) severe accident issues: Differences and similarities to commercial LWRs (light water reactors)

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6397131

Ellison, P G; Hyder, M L; Monson, P R ^[1]; Coryell, E W ^[2]

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1. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (USA)
2. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)

Differences and similarities in severe accident progression and phenomena between commercial Light Water Reactors (LWR) and metal-fueled isotopic production Heavy Water Reactors (HWR) are described. It is very important to distinguish between accident progression in the two systems because each reactor type behaves in a unique manner to a fuel melting accident. Some of the lessons learned as a result of the extensive commercial severe accident research are not applicable to metal-fueled heavy water reactors. A direct application of severe accident phenomena developed from oxide-fueled LWRs to metal-fueled HWRs may lead to large errors or substantial uncertainties. In general, the application of severe accident LWR concepts to HWRs should be done with the intent to define the relevant issues, define differences, and determine areas of overlap. This paper describes the relevant differences between LWR and metal-fueled HWR severe accident phenomena. Also included in the paper is a description of the phenomena that govern the source term in HWRs, the areas where research is needed to resolve major uncertainties, and areas in which LWR technology can be directly applied with few modifications.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/DP
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6397131
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS-90-18; CONF-9010151-4; ON: DE91004255; TRN: 90-037653
• Resource Relation: Conference: International topical meeting on the safety, status, and future of non-commercial reactors and irradiation facilities, Boise, ID (USA), 4 Oct 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
HEAVY WATER COOLED REACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
AEROSOLS
C CODES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
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CONTAINMENT
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CORIUM
CRITICALITY
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FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
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M CODES
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REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTOR VESSELS
STEAM
ACCIDENTS
BUILDING MATERIALS
COLLOIDS
COMPUTER CODES
CONTAINERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
KINETICS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SAFETY
SOLS
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
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