BR2-THE MAXIMUM CREDIBLE ACCIDENT PROCEDURE AND CONSEQUENCES

Technical Report · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1961

OSTI ID:4833334

Penelle, G

The maximum credible accident is defined as the most serious accident which one can conceive without implying any clearly impossible circumstance. As far as the BR2 is concerned, a step change reactivity insertion of 1.3 to 1.9% would result in a nuclear runaway with the following consequences: a) the fuel elements would be heated beyond the melting point and it is assumed that a temperature as high as 1200 deg C can be reached; b) at such a temperature, an aluminum-water reaction could occur; and c) chemical reaction would release hydrogen which could react with the oxygen of the air. Furthermore, it is supposed that sodium used for experiments would react with water. The amount of energy produced in all these ways would be released in the containment building, heating its atmosphere. The resulting overpressure would result in fission products escaping through the building walls; these losses are directly related to the behavior of the pressure which is studied taking into account the heat absorption in the materials of the building. The inhaled and deposited quantities of several dangerous isotopes (I, Sr, Cs) are then computed; finally, the integrated dosage of external radiation is given. (auth)

• Research Organization: Centre d'Etude de l'Energie Nucleaire, Brussels (Belgium)
• NSA Number: NSA-16-002052
• OSTI ID: 4833334
• Report Number(s): BLG-60
• Country of Publication: Belgium
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ACCIDENTS
ADSORPTION
ALUMINUM OXIDES
BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDINGS
CESIUM
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROGEN
IODINE
ISOTOPES
MELTING
OXYGEN
PRESSURE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTIVITY
REACTORS
SODIUM
STRONTIUM
THERMAL RADIATION
WATER