METAL-WATER REACTIONS:VII. REACTOR SAFETY ASPECTS OF METAL-WATER REACTIONS

摘要

A violent disruptive chemical reaction can occur and has been observed in a number of cases when molten metal and water are brought into contact. Some accidents arising in this way have been extremely costly in lives and property.nWhile there have been a number of instances of nuclear reactor melt-downs, in only one (the NRX incident) was there any evidence of significant chemical reaction.nThe course of events from normal reactor operation to the production of a violent chemical reaction is a complex one, with many side effects and com¬peting paths that may terminate the process before the dangerous end result is achieved. It does not appear to be possible at the present time to formulate a figure for the probability of each of these events, or of the over-all process;but the likelihood certainly appears to be small.