Risk-based fault tree analysis method for identification, preliminary evaluation, and screening of potential accidental release sequences in nuclear fuel cycle operations

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7350004· OSTI ID:7350004

Smith, T. H.; Pelto, P. J.; Stevens, D. L.; Seybold, G. D.; Purcell, W. L.; Kimmel, L. V.

A method is described for identification, preliminary evaluation, and screening of potential accident sequences leading to uncontrolled release of radioactive materials. Included is a procedure for estimating the risk sum of all identified sequences. In addition, portions of the procedures have been developed for detailed analysis of the dominant (highest risk) sequences so screened. This method was developed for the ERDA-sponsored risk analysis of systems for managing high-level waste, part of the Waste Fixation Program (WFP). The method begins with certain preliminary analyses. The facility and operation are described and analysis bounds are established. A type of fault tree construction, the ''to/through'' approach, was chosen for the WFP waste management system. The to/through fault tree approach offers advantages over others in several respects. The analysis is considered more complete because the system is treated as a whole. The screening process was successfully demonstrated on a conceptual waste management system for the Waste Fixation Program. Fault trees were constructed and evaluated for processing, handling, transporting, and storing high-level waste. Trees of up to 14,000,000 release sequences (BICS-Boolean-indicated cut sets) were screened and the top few hundred or thousand sequences preliminarily ranked. An estimate of the total risk represented in the fault tree was also obtained. (auth)

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AT(4-1)-1830
• OSTI ID: 7350004
• Report Number(s): BNWL-1959; TRN: 76-014217
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
FAULT TREE ANALYSIS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
SOLIDIFICATION
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FUEL CYCLE
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
ACCIDENTS
MANAGEMENT
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PROCESSING
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
052000* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management