Frequency and consequences associated with an SGTR (steam generator tube rupture) event
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires utilities to determine the response of their pressurized water reactor (PWR) to a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) as part of the safety analysis for the plant. Guidelines for the analysis of an SGTR event include assumptions regarding the presence of fission product iodine in the reactor coolant resulting from iodine spikes. Uncertainties in the consequences of this class of accidents have prompted the NRC to designate them as a generic safety issue. This paper presents the results of an investigation into two aspects of the risk associated with an SGTR. First, historical steam generator tube leakage and rupture data have been evaluated to estimate the expected frequency of an SGTR. Second, operational PWR data have been analyzed to generate data bases for the magnitude of iodine spikes to be used in analysis of SGTR events. An analysis was also performed to estimate the transport of iodine during an SGTR from the reactor coolant system (RCS) to the environment. Based on an analysis of SGTR events, it is concluded that the frequency of this accident type is sufficiently high to justify its continued inclusion as a design-basis accident. An analysis of historical iodine spikes indicates that the current guidelines are overly conservative regarding the magnitude of iodine released to the RCS and could be relaxed while maintaining adequate protection for the public.
- OSTI ID:
- 6528139
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-891103--
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Vol. 60; ISSN TANSA; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
BOILERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FAILURES
FISSION PRODUCTS
FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT
HALOGENS
IODINE
ISOTOPES
LEAKS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
RUPTURES
SAFETY
STATISTICAL MODELS
STEAM GENERATORS
TUBES
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS
VAPOR GENERATORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS