Potential radiological impact of tornadoes on the safety of Nuclear Fuel Services' West Valley Fuel Reprocessing Plant. Volume I. Tornado effects on head-end cell airflow

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:5502013

Holloway, L J; Andrae, R W

This report describes results of a parametric study of the impacts of a tornado-generated depressurization on airflow in the contaminated process cells within the presently inoperative Nuclear Fuel Services fuel reprocessing facility near West Valley, NY. The study involved the following tasks: (1) mathematical modeling of installed ventilation and abnormal exhaust pathways from the cells and prediction of tornado-induced airflows in these pathways; (2) mathematical modeling of individual cell flow characteristics and prediction of in-cell velocities induced by flows from step 1; and (3) evaluation of the results of steps 1 and 2 to determine whether any of the pathways investigated have the potential for releasing quantities of radioactively contaminated air from the main process cells. The study has concluded that in the event of a tornado strike, certain pathways from the cells have the potential to release radioactive materials of the atmosphere. Determination of the quantities of radioactive material released from the cells through pathways identified in step 3 is presented in Part II of this report.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5502013
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-1530-Vol.1; ORNL/NUREG-80/P1; ON: TI85015877
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
WEST VALLEY PROCESSING PLANT
RADIATION HAZARDS
CONTAMINATION
HEAD END PROCESSES
HOT CELLS
RADIOACTIVITY
SAFETY
TORNADOES
DISASTERS
EQUIPMENT
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
STORMS
WIND
050800* - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing