Reentry safety for the Topaz II Space Reactor: Issues and analyses
This report documents the reentry safety analyses conducted for the TOPAZ II Nuclear Electric Propulsion Space Test Program (NEPSTP). Scoping calculations were performed on the reentry aerothermal breakup and ground footprint of reactor core debris. The calculations were used to assess the risks associated with radiologically cold reentry accidents and to determine if constraints should be placed on the core configuration for such accidents. Three risk factors were considered: inadvertent criticality upon reentry impact, atmospheric dispersal of U-235 fuel, and the Special Nuclear Material Safeguards risks. Results indicate that the risks associated with cold reentry are very low regardless of the core configuration. Core configuration constraints were therefore not established for radiologically cold reentry accidents.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 10184645
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-94-0484; ON: DE95000325; TRN: 94:019088
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Mar 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
REENTRY
NUCLEAR DAMAGE
TOPAZ REACTOR
ACCIDENTS
FAILURES
SAFETY ANALYSIS
REACTOR SAFETY
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
210600
220900
POWER REACTORS, MOBILE, PROPULSION, PACKAGE, AND TRANSPORTABLE