Probabilistic assessment of critically flawed LMFBR PHTS piping elbows

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6317572

Balkey, K R; Wallace, I T; Vaurio, J K

One of the important functions of the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS) of a large Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) plant is to contain the circulating radioactive sodium in components and piping routed through inerted areas within the containment building. A significant possible failure mode of this vital system is the development of cracks in the piping components. This paper presents results from the probabilistic assessment of postulated flaws in the most-critical piping elbow of each piping leg. The criticality of calculated maximum sized flaws is assessed against an estimated material fracture toughness to determine safety factors and failure probability estimates using stress-strength interference theory. Subsequently, a different approach is also employed in which the randomness of the initial flaw size and loading are more-rigorously taken into account. This latter approach yields much smaller probability of failure values when compared to the stress-strength interference analysis results.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Madison, PA (USA). Advanced Reactors Div.; Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6317572
• Report Number(s): CONF-820601-29; ON: DE83010781
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
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Breeding
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220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
BREEDER REACTORS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAILURES
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
PIPE FITTINGS
PIPES
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
RISK ASSESSMENT