CONTAINMENT STUDY OF THE ENRICO FERMI FAST BREEDER REACTOR PLANT

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1957

OSTI ID:4309424

Fisher, E M; Wise, Jr, W R

A study was made on the ability of the Enrico Fermi fast breeder reactor plant to contain a nuclear excursion equivalent to the violence produced by 1000 pounds of TNT. The results of the study indicate that the reactor plant can contain shock waves developed in the air and in the Na and also fragments from the cylindrical covering materials surrounding the reactor core. The rotating shield plug, however, is a serious hazard when projected by the gun action of the internal blast pressure in the reactor compartment. This problem is analyzed and a recommendation was made to lessen the danger. A greater hazard from the rotating plug can result from a slower (nonexplosive) energy release; however, it has not yet been determined by APDA whether a slower energy release as postulated in this report is possible. (auth)

• Research Organization: Naval Ordnance Lab., White Oak, Md.
• NSA Number: NSA-12-005650
• OSTI ID: 4309424
• Report Number(s): NAVORD-5747
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AIR
BREEDING
CYLINDERS
ENERGY
EXCURSIONS
EXPLOSIONS
FAST NEUTRONS
PHYSICS
POWER PLANTS
PRESSURE
REACTOR CORE
REACTORS
SHELLS
SHOCK WAVES
SODIUM
STABILITY