Review of Failure Probability Calculations for HFIR Primary Coolant System Piping

Simonen, Fredric A.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S.)

关键词: Ornl;    Management;    Probability;    Nuclear Energy;    29 Energy Planning, Policy And Economy;   

DOI  :  10.2172/900228
RP-ID  :  PNNL-13718
RP-ID  :  AC05-76RL01830
RP-ID  :  900228

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

During July 2001, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was requested by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Facilities Management, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, Germantown, Maryland, to review calculations of piping failure probabilities for the High Flux Test Reactor (HFIR) located at and operated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The objective of the failure probability calculations was to estimate the probabilities of large leaks (>1500 gpm) that are of sufficient size to disable the primary coolant system of HFIR to the extent that there is a potential for core damage. PNNL reviewed the computational methods and the inputs to the calculations along with an evaluation of potential failure mechanisms not explicitly addressed by the ORNL calculations. The review concluded that the calculated failure probabilities even with consideration of uncertainties in the calculations and of other potential failure mechanisms provide a high level of confidence that failure frequencies are less than the stated goal of 10-6 piping failures per year.