Phenomena considerations affecting safety analysis for reactors in space
Reactor safety analysis for reactors in outer space may be quite different from that postulated to occur on earth. With gravity having a dominating influence on fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and mass transfer processes, other physical phenomena can be important in determining the sequence of events in accidents, particularly core-melt-type events occurring in a microgravity environment. Without gravity, the relative effects of other physical phenomena need to be assessed. Using SP-100 design and orbit assumptions, this summary describes some potential impacts and order-of-magnitude estimates of the forces of three phenomena (microgravity, surface tension/capillary forces, and gaseous fission products) on the behavior of liquid (coolant or molten fuel) based on mechanistic processes.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles
- OSTI ID:
- 5746097
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870601-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 54; ISSN TANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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