How much nuclear fuel is present in the lavalike fuel-containing mass in the fourth power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant?
At the time of the accident in the reactor of the fourth power-generating unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986, the core contained 1659 fuel assemblies. Each assembly contained 114.7 kg of uranium, and therefore the reactor contained a total of 114.7 x 1659 = 190,287.3 kg of uranium. If the amount of fuel is calculated according to the uranium dioxide, i.e. in the form in which the fuel was loaded into the fuel elements, then its mass in each fuel element was 3.6 kg. A fuel assembly consists of 36 fuel elements, and therefore the reactor contained 3.6 x 36 x 1659 = 215,006.4 kg of uranium dioxide. The investigations performed in the destroyed buildings showed that the nuclear fuel after the accident is found in three main modifications: in the form of uranium dioxide tablets, in the form in which it was loaded into the reactor; in a dispersed form as dust and aerosol; and in a remelted state, in the form of a lavalike fuel-containing mass. This paper discusses the amount of nuclear fuel in the lavalike mass at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 226794
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950768-; ISSN 1063-4258; TRN: 96:000730-0009
- Journal Information:
- Atomic Energy (New York), Vol. 78, Issue 4; Conference: 6. annual scientific and technical conference of the Nuclear Society International: international cooperation for nuclear development, Kiev (Ukraine), 3-7 Jul 1995; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1995; TN: Translated from Atomnaya Energiya; 78: No. 4, 256-259(Apr 1995)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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