ORNL-1816 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

7 .
"
e-
It should be noted that the presence of the shield
water would provide a strong damping effect on any
temperature rise associated with an accident. The
third part of Table 2.2 shows the temperature rise
associated with the release of energy from the
various sources for various conditions. As shown
in the table, if all the heat from the combustion
reactions were to be confined in the combustion
products, high temperatures would result from
stoichiometric reactions. Even in such instances,
much of the heat would be dissipated to the atmos-
phere within the containing vessel so that the
temperature would be substantially lowered. If
the reaction were quenched by the shield water,
still lower temperatures would result.
It is clearly essential that provision be made to
contain the products of a total reactor tragedy
except, possibly, if the reactor is installed at
NRTS. A comparison of key data for several types
of container is given in Table 2.3. For this com-
parison the worst set of conditions applicable to
each case was presumed, As may be seen, the
double-walled tank compares favorably with the
hemispherical and ellipsoidal buildings. While
difficult to evaluate numerically, the double-walled
tank also appears superior in that it would be less
subject to sabotage, Even if both walls were
ruptured and the reactor melted down, the residue
would tend to sink to the bottom of the tank pit,
sion was made for cooling the container wall.
**Includes steel frame.
PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 10, 7954
where it would be flooded by the water ihat had
filled the region between the walls. This water
would both absorb the heat of any reaction and act
as a shield to reduce the radiation level at the top
of the pit. After careful review of these and a host
of lesser considerations, the 24-ft-dia double-wal led
tank was chosen as the most promising test facility.
Although the double-walled tank type of test
installation is adaptable to several types 04 reactor
test facility, the most promising possibility is to
install it in an addition to the ARE Building. Such
an arrangement would permit the use of services
and facilities that already exist in the ARE Build-
ing, for which no plans have been formulated now
that it has served its original purpose. For ex-
ample, items such as the control room, offices,
change rooms, toilets, storage area, water supply,
power supply, portions of experimental test pits,
access roads, security fencing, and security I ighting
are available.
Of the several schemes considered for modifying
the ARE Building to accommodate the ART, the
most attractive plan is to construct an addition on
the south end to effect a 64-ft extension of the
present 105-ft-long building by extending the ex-
isting roof and side walls. Figure 2.8 shows a
preliminary design, The floor level of the addition
would be at the ARE basement floor grade, with
the double-walled tank to house the ART sunk in
TABLE 2.3. COMPARISON OF KEY DATA FOR SEVERAL TYPES
OF REACTOR INSTALLATION CONTAINERS
24-ft-d ia 17-ft-dia
Dou b I e- Wa I I ed Double- Wa I led 200-ft-dia 115-ft-dia
Tank with 9-ft
Ellipsoidal Hemisptiericol
37