A Tool for Criticality Accident Emergency Planning, Training and Response
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Under past contract with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC) and using current computational capabilities, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory revised and extended a basic and easy-to-use tool for use in emergency response to nuclear criticality accidents. Though the tool, comprised of sliding nomographs, was intended for use in an emergency response environment, the tool is suited for estimating first pulse, subsequent fission yields of certain types of fissile solution criticality accidents and shielding effects of various materials. This paper describes the features of the tool, referenced as a “slide rule,” and discusses the application of the tool for emergency planning, training and response. These features include readily usable information for estimating nuclear criticality accident information from sliding graphs, thereby permitting (1) the rapid estimation of pertinent criticality accident information without laborious or sophisticated calculations in a nuclear criticality emergency situation, (2) the appraisal of potential fission yields and external personnel radiation exposures for facility safety analyses, and (3) a technical basis for emergency preparedness and training programs at nonreactor nuclear facilities. The slide rule permits the estimation of neutron and gamma dose rates and integrated doses based upon estimated fission yields, distance from the fission source, and time-after criticality accidents for five different critical systems. Another sliding graph permits the estimation of critical solution first-pulse fission yields based upon fissile material concentration, critical vessel geometry, and solution addition rate. Another graph provides neutron and gamma dose reduction factors for water, steel, and concrete shields. The focus of the paper will be on the use and value of such a tool for emergency planning, training and response for nuclear criticality accidents.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 774661
- Report Number(s):
- P00-107616; TRN: US0101103
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: OECD, International Workshop on the Safety of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle; Other Information: PBD: 10 Jan 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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