Population hazards

Farmer, F.R. Beattie, J.R. (1976) Nuclear power reactors and the evaluation of population hazards. Advances in Nuclear Science Technology, 9, 1-72. 

NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS AND THE EVALUATION OF POPULATION HAZARDS... 

At the present state of the art, a corner of an article about evaluation of population hazards is hardly an appropriate place in which to attempt an exposition of reactor safety. Nevertheless, we may contrive a brief description of these types of reactor accidents which, it is thought, could lead to fission product release. The intention is to illustrate ways in which fuel could be damaged and then release fission products ultimately to the atmosphere. Though gas-cooled reactors, water-cooled reactors, and sodium-cooled fast reactors will be discussed, no comparisons, invidious or otherwise, are intended between the safety of these systems. 

As to accident 9, here, of course, is the crux of the matter so far as population hazard is concerned. One is left to make up one s own mind as to what parameters to assume—as is the case with what may be thought to be corresponding though different circumstances for gas-cooled reactors (see section II,B). At the present state of the art, this is perhaps inevitable. So far as fission product release from fuel is concerned, we clearly have to consider fuel at temperatures up to the melting point of uranium dioxide, 2800 C some representative values are given in Section III. 

A number of those who evaluate population hazards have found it convenient to consider that the cross-wind spread of the plume is 30° irrespective of the Pasquill category considered. In the United States it is usually considered appropriate to consider 22 ° plumes for this purpose, whereas in the Great Britain, 30° has been used. The reasons are probably... 

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