A methodology for evaluating the probability for fire loss of nuclear power plant safety functions

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5234940

Gallucci, R H.V.

A methodology has been developed for the evaluation of the probability for loss of nuclear power plant safety functions due to fires. A framework for the investigation of fire scenarios involving safety-related equipment has been established which models fire development as a series of ignition, detection, suppression, and propagation steps. In addition to presenting various models for the quantitative evaluation of probabilities for these steps, generic values have been calculated to illustrate the application of this methodology to an existing boiling-water reactor (BWR). To place the numerical results in the context of reactor accident consequences, the probabilty for core damage due to a nuclear plant fire at this representative BWR has been estimated. A value of 2.1 x 10/sup -4//plant-year was calculated, with an upper bound of .0013/plant-year. In the course of developing and applying this methodology, various techniques for modelling the events associated with fire development (ignitiion, detection, suppression, and propagation) have been identified. These are of interest in their own right, not only as part of the overall analysis. Fire ignition, automatic and human detection, extingushing agent effectiveness, and fire propagation have been determined to be the dominant factors for consideration in the analysis of a fire scenario. Also, other nuclear plant fire zones, besides the cable spreading and control rooms, have been found to be critical with respect to fire loss of safety functions, especially the switchgear rooms.

• Research Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst., Troy, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5234940
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
ENGINEERING
EVALUATION
FIRE HAZARDS
FIRE PREVENTION
HAZARDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PROBABILITY
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
SAFETY
SAFETY ENGINEERING
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS