Investigation of the lightning vulnerability of nuclear explosive test systems at the Nevada Test Site
At the US Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) conducts operations involving the underground detonation of nuclear explosive test devices. Nuclear explosive safety is a very important consideration during these operations. To assure safety, all components, systems and procedures are analyzed by LLNL and are subjected to an inter-agency Nuclear Explosive Safety Study. These studies consider all sources and paths of energy that could conceivably initiate an unwanted detonation. One of the energy sources considered is lightning. Over the years, several lightning hazard studies have been carried out. They each concluded that the magnitude of lightning energy reaching the high explosive or the detonators was small compared to that required to produce a detonation. In 1983, an LLNL task force was established to reexamine the lightning vulnerability of the nuclear explosive test systems, taking into account the previous studies and current knowledge. As a result of this investigation several improvements are being implemented. Also, simulated lightning tests will be used to provide verification of the safety claims. Although underground nuclear testing is unique, the overall method and results of this investigation should be of use to those faced with a lightning threat in a large, cable-interconnected system. 8 refs., 7 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5733152
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-91626; CONF-8506121-1; ON: DE85011761
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
420600 -- Engineering-- Safety Engineering-- (-1987)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
DETONATIONS
DETONATORS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIVES
HAZARDS
LIGHTNING
LIGHTNING ARRESTERS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEVADA TEST SITE
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
SAFETY ENGINEERING
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEAPONS