Application of the Gas-Cooled Reactor Data Base to the Estimation of LWR Accident Irradiation Source Term

摘要

The fission product release data bases on high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) and gas-cooled fast breeder reactor (GCFR) fuels have been examined to determine their usefulness in developing accident source terms for light water reactors (LWRs). The GCFR data base provided some data on the release rates of alkali metal radionuclides from GCFR fuels. These data generally support the data obtained on LWR fuels. The states of GCFR and LWR fuels prior to the initiation of a core heat-up accident are different, primarily because of the movement of fission products inside GCFR rods, a phenomenon not observed in LWRs. The HTGR data base was of very limited value because of the extreme differences between HTGR fuel and LWR fuel. An experimental program is proposed which could provide data on the effects of steam on fission product release and transport and fuel rod chemistry. (ERA citation 08:014887)