Nuclear reactor safety research since Three Mile Island

Journal Article · Fri Apr 09 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.216.4542.131· OSTI ID:7064037

Mynatt, F R

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant accident has resulted in redirection of reactor safety research priorities. The small release to the environment of radioactive iodine-13 to 17 curies in a total radioactivity release of 2.4 million to 13 million curies-has led to a new emphasis on the physical chemistry of fission product behavior in accidents; the fact that the nuclear core was severely damaged but did not melt down has opened a new accident regime-that of the degraded core; the role of the operators in the progression and severity of the accident has shifted emphasis from equipment reliability to human reliability. As research progresses in these areas, the technical base for regulation and risk analysis will change substantially.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 7064037
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Vol. 216:4542
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
HUMAN FACTORS
IODINE
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTOR SAFETY
ACCIDENTS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
HALOGENS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
OPERATION
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SAFETY
THERMAL REACTORS
WASTES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled