Water-molten uranium hazard analysis. Final report. LATA report No. 92

Technical Report · Tue Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5966373· OSTI ID:5966373

Hughes, P S; Rigdon, L D; Donham, B J

The hazard potential of cooling water leakage into the crucible of molten uranium in the MARS laser isotope separation experiment was investigated. A vapor-phase explosion is highly unlikely in any of the scenarios defined for MARS. For the operating basis accident, the gas pressure transient experienced by the vessel wall is 544 psia peak with a duration of 200 ..mu..s, and the peak hoop stress is about 20,000 psi in a 0.5-in. wall. Design and procedural recommendations are given for reducing the hazard. (DLC)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Technical Associates, Inc., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5966373
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15089; TRN: 79-020716
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
LASER ISOTOPE SEPARATION
HAZARDS
URANIUM ISOTOPES
ACCIDENTS
CRUCIBLES
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
LIQUIDS
MELTING
MOLTEN METAL-WATER REACTIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
URANIUM
WATER
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
050503* - Nuclear Fuels- Uranium Enrichment- Laser Excitation- (-1989)