Assessment of the Chernobyl-4 accident localization system
This article summarizes the development, design, and operation of the Soviet accident localization system (ALS) and assesses the ALS design objectives and capabilities as applied to the Chernobyl Atomic Energy Station Unit 4 (Chernobyl-4) RBMK-1000 reactor. Because the purpose of the ALS is to provide a barrier against the uncontrolled release of radioactive material to the environment during certain reactor-cooling-system pipe breaks, the ALS has been described as the Soviet RBMK-1000 counterpart of commercial US light-water-reactor (LWR) containments. Assessment of the ALS capabilities from this perspective is included through a general description of the design objectives and typical features of commercial US LWR containments. A hypothetical RBMK-1000 containment incorporating typical design features of commercial US LWR containments is studied in a scoping assessment for performance under conditions estimated to be similar to those imposed by the Apr. 26, 1986, accident at Chernobyl-4. 3 refs., 7 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Stone and Webster Engineering Corp.; Electric Power Research Institute
- OSTI ID:
- 5899424
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Saf.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Saf.; (United States) Vol. 28:3; ISSN NUSAA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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