Criticality Excursions in Wetted UO2 Powder
Conference
·
· Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:7190007
Increasing amounts of fissile material in the form of uranium oxide powder are involved in the development of the electronuclear program. In spite of multiple precautions, the risk of a criticality accident exists, particularly in fuel manufacturing plants where important masses from hundreds of kilograms to several tons may be manipulated in one lot at the time of operations linked with processing, transport, and storage. The criticality safety of these installations is essentially based on moderation control, but one cannot exclude the accidental introduction water, for instance, in flasks or apparatus containing UO2 powder. The aim of the criticality accident study performed by Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique is to acquire basic phenomenological knowledge of criticality excursions in such a medium so as to estimate the risk and the possible consequences. Taking into account the rough knowledge in this area, it does not seem realistic to intend at the present time the realization of such an accident in the laboratory without investing considerable means. The present approach involves acquiring by successive stages the data necessary for the elaboration of a calculation code that will be able to describe an accidental criticality excursion based on a credible hypothetical scenario.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- OSTI ID:
- 7190007
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8711195-
- Conference Information:
- Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Journal Volume: 55
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
The EDAC system and new developments under consideration at the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique for criticality accident detection
Review of Studies on Criticality Accidents Undertaken at CEA/Valduc
Simulation of hypothetical criticality accidents involving homogeneous damp low-enriched UO[sub 2] powder systems
Journal Article
·
Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 UTC 1987
· Nucl. Technol.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5446805
Review of Studies on Criticality Accidents Undertaken at CEA/Valduc
Conference
·
Sun Jun 02 04:00:00 UTC 1991
· Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
·
OSTI ID:5864446
Simulation of hypothetical criticality accidents involving homogeneous damp low-enriched UO[sub 2] powder systems
Journal Article
·
Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 UTC 1994
· Nuclear Technology; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:5450786
Related Subjects
42 ENGINEERING
420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRITICALITY
Criticality Accident Study
Criticality Safety
DISPERSIONS
Fissile Material
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MIXTURES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWDERS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SOLUTIONS
TRANSIENTS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
Uranium Oxide Powder
420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRITICALITY
Criticality Accident Study
Criticality Safety
DISPERSIONS
Fissile Material
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MIXTURES
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWDERS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAFETY
SOLUTIONS
TRANSIENTS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
Uranium Oxide Powder