Analysis of the SL-1 Accident Using RELAPS5-3D
On January 3, 1961, at the National Reactor Testing Station, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the Stationary Low Power Reactor No. 1 (SL-1) experienced a major nuclear excursion, killing three people, and destroying the reactor core. The SL-1 reactor, a 3 MW{sub t} boiling water reactor, was shut down and undergoing routine maintenance work at the time. This paper presents an analysis of the SL-1 reactor excursion using the RELAP5-3D thermal-hydraulic and nuclear analysis code, with the intent of simulating the accident from the point of reactivity insertion to destruction and vaporization of the fuel. Results are presented, along with a discussion of sensitivity to some reactor and transient parameters (many of the details are only known with a high level of uncertainty).
- Research Organization:
- Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory (BAPL), West Mifflin, PA
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC11-98PN38206
- OSTI ID:
- 923320
- Report Number(s):
- B-T-3710; TRN: US0801808
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2007 RELAP5 International User's Seminar
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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