Experiments on liquid-metal fast breeder reactor aerosol source terms after severe accidents

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5010746

Berthoud, G; Longest, A W; Wright, A L; Schutz, W P

In the extremely unlikely event of a liquid-metal fast breeder reactor core disruptive accident, expanding core material or sodium vapor inside the sodium pool may cause leaks in the vessel head and transport of radioactive material, mostly aerosols, in one large bubble or several smaller bubbles under energetic conditions to the cover gas and through leaks to the inner containment (''instantaneous source term''). Out-of-pile experiments on bubble expansion from a pressurized source inside a liquid (water or sodium) and related phenomena like heat transfer, condensation, entrainment, rise, and aerosol transport were carried out in France and the United States and are continuing in the Federal Republic of Germany. Parameters and results of these experiments are described and discussed, mainly concerning the aerosol problem. It appears that several mechanisms exist for a very efficient removal of particles from the bubble. Retention factors larger than 10,000 were found in most cases. In addition, a short survey is given of French and German experiments on fuel and fission product release from evaporating or burning sodium pools (delayed source term).

• Research Organization: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires, DGR-CEA/ERDI/CENG-85X, 38041 Grenoble, Cedex (FR)
• OSTI ID: 5010746
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 81:2; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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42 ENGINEERING
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
AEROSOLS
ALKALI METALS
BREEDER REACTORS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
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FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY
FRANCE
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAK DETECTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
LOSS OF COOLANT
MASS TRANSFER
METALS
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RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
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REACTOR CORES
REACTOR SAFETY EXPERIMENTS
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WATER
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