Accident source terms for Light-Water Nuclear Power Plants. Final report

Technical Report · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/29438· OSTI ID:29438

Soffer, L; Burson, S B; Ferrell, C M; Lee, R Y; Ridgely, J N

In 1962 tile US Atomic Energy Commission published TID-14844, ``Calculation of Distance Factors for Power and Test Reactors`` which specified a release of fission products from the core to the reactor containment for a postulated accident involving ``substantial meltdown of the core``. This ``source term``, tile basis for tile NRC`s Regulatory Guides 1.3 and 1.4, has been used to determine compliance with tile NRC`s reactor site criteria, 10 CFR Part 100, and to evaluate other important plant performance requirements. During the past 30 years substantial additional information on fission product releases has been developed based on significant severe accident research. This document utilizes this research by providing more realistic estimates of the ``source term`` release into containment, in terms of timing, nuclide types, quantities and chemical form, given a severe core-melt accident. This revised ``source term`` is to be applied to the design of future light water reactors (LWRs). Current LWR licensees may voluntarily propose applications based upon it.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Systems Technology
• Sponsoring Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 29438
• Report Number(s): NUREG--1465; ON: TI95007966
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CONTAINMENT
DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FISSION PRODUCTS
MELTDOWN
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
SOURCE TERMS