Publications

NSRD-16: Computational Capability to Substantiate DOE-HDBk-3010 Data

Louie, David L.; Bignell, John B.; Le, San L.; Dingreville, Remi P.; Gilkey, Lindsay N.; Gordon, Natalie G.; Fascitelli, Dominic G.

Safety basis analysts throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) complex rely heavily on the information provided in the DOE Handbook, DOE-HDBK-3010,Airborne Release Fractions/Rates and Respirable Fractions for Nonreactor Nuclear Facilities, to determine radionuclide source terms from postulated accident scenarios. In calculating source terms, analysts tend to use the DOE Handbook's bounding values on airborne release fractions (ARFs) and respirable fractions (RFs) for various categories of insults (representing potential accident release categories). This is typically due to both time constraints and the avoidance of regulatory critique. Unfortunately, these bounding ARFs/RFs represent extremely conservative values. Moreover, they were derived from very limited small-scale bench/laboratory experiments and/or from engineered judgment.Thus, the basis for the data may not be representative of the actual unique accident conditions and configurations being evaluated.