Potential radiological impact of tornadoes on the safety of Nuclear Fuel Services' West Valley Fuel Reprocessing Plant. 2. Reentrainment and discharge of radioactive materials

Technical Report · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5146799· OSTI ID:5146799

Davis, W Jr

This report describes results of a parametric study of quantities of radioactive materials that might be discharged by a tornado-generated depressurization on contaminated process cells within the presently inoperative Nuclear Fuel Services' (NFS) fuel reprocessing facility near West Valley, New York. The study involved the following tasks: determining approximate quantities of radioactive materials in the cells and characterizing particle-size distribution; estimating the degree of mass reentrainment from particle-size distribution and from air speed data presented in Part 1; and estimating the quantities of radioactive material (source term) released from the cells to the atmosphere. The study has shown that improperly sealed manipulator ports in the Process Mechanical Cell (PMC) present the most likely pathway for release of substantial quantities of radioactive material in the atmosphere under tornado accident conditions at the facility.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 5146799
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-1530-Pt.2; ORNL/NUREG-80/P2; ON: TI86000954
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
TORNADOES
DESIGN BASIS ACCIDENTS
WEST VALLEY PROCESSING PLANT
SAFETY ENGINEERING
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ACCIDENTS
DISASTERS
ENGINEERING
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
STORMS
WIND
220500* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Environmental Aspects
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects