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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

An overview of BWR Mark-I containment venting risk implications

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6896563

Venting of boiling water reactors with Mark-I containments has been suggested as a way to prevent catastrophic failure and/or mitigate the consequences resulting from a severe accident. Based on phenomenological, human factors, and risk considerations, the potential benefits and downsides of venting Mark-I containments were analyzed. Several generic venting systems and two proposed utility systems were reviewed. Based on generic considerations, the offsite consequences during risk dominant accidents were qualitatively assessed for four different vent systems. A quantitative risk study of an early venting strategy was performed, based on the existing Peach Bottom hardware and the draft NUREG-1150 results for Peach Bottom. Appendices are also included which contain reviews of the Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee venting submitals, a response to the seven questions from the NRC about the Pilgrim venting strategy, and a review of the venting strategy directed by Revision 4 of the Boiling Water Reactor Emergency Procedures Guidelines. 16 refs., 7 figs., 7 tabs.

Research Organization:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Safety Issue Resolution; EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
6896563
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-5225; EGG-2548; ON: TI89004067
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English