Topaz II Preliminary Safety Assessment

Conference · Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.43185· OSTI ID:7144402

Marshall, A. C. ^[1]; Standley, V. ^[2]; Voss, S. S. ^[3]; Haskin, E. ^[4]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Air Force Phillips Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
3. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
4. New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering

The Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) decided to investigate the possibility of launching a Russian Topaz 11 space nuclear power system. A preliminary safety assessment was conducted to determine whether or not a space mission could be conducted safely and within budget constraints. As part of this assessment, a safety policy and safety functional requirements were developed to guide both the safely assessment and future Topaz II activities. A review of the Russian flight safety program was conducted and documented. Our preliminary safety assessment included a top level event tree, neutronic analysis of normal and accident configurations, an evaluation of temperature coefficients of reactivity, a reentry and disposal analysis, and analysis of postulated launch abort impact accidents, and an analysis of postulated propellant fire and explosion accidents. Based on the assessment, it appears that it will be possible to safely launch the Topaz II system in the US with some possible system modifications. The principal system modifications will probably include design changes to preclude water flooded criticality and to assure intact reentry.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Air Force Phillips Laboratory, Albuquerque, NM (United States); New Mexico Univ., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering; Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP); US Dept. of Defense, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 7144402
• Report Number(s): SAND-92-2242C; CONF-930103-16; ON: DE93002457
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 271; Conference: 10. Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 10-14 Jan 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
SPACE POWER REACTORS
REACTOR SAFETY
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
BUDGETS
MISSION ANALYSIS
MODIFICATIONS
REACTIVITY
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR PHYSICS
SAFETY ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
ACCIDENTS
MOBILE REACTORS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
PHYSICS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
SAFETY
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO)
Assessment
Russian Topaz II Space Nuclear Power System
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210600 - Power Reactors
Auxiliary
Mobile Package
& Transportable
450500 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Strategic Defense Initiative- (1990-)