Estimate of the chimney maximum temperature and flow rate during the Pile 1 fire, Windscale, October 1957

Weerasekara, N. S., Garland, J. A. and Lockwood, F. C. (2004) Estimate of the chimney maximum temperature and flow rate during the Pile 1 fire, Windscale, October 1957. Journal of the Energy Institute, 77 513: 76-81.


Author Weerasekara, N. S.
Garland, J. A.
Lockwood, F. C.
Title Estimate of the chimney maximum temperature and flow rate during the Pile 1 fire, Windscale, October 1957
Journal name Journal of the Energy Institute  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2004-12
Sub-type Article
Volume number 77
Issue number 513
ISSN 1746-0220; 0144-2600
Start page 76
End page 81
Total pages 6
Place of publication London, UK
Publisher Maney
Language eng
Subject 0905 Civil Engineering
Abstract The temperature and flow rate are estimated of chimney gases emitted from the accidental fire in the Pile 1 nuclear reactor at the Windscale Works in October 1957. These are used in the study of the atmospheric dispersion of the chimney plume and of the radionuclides in it. The accident was one of great physical complexity, compounded by the fact that the number of installed sensors was, by modern standards, rather limited. Sophisticated computer modelling (CFD) is now available. However, the scope for validation in a one-off accident is limited. The mathematical simulation of the accident presented here is based on physically acceptable assumptions, chosen to represent a realistic worst case. These give a chimney gas temperature of 577 °C and a corresponding flow rate of 416 kg s-1. The uncertainties in these quantities are assessed in a sensitivity study.
Keyword Windscale Works
Nuclear reactor
Fire
Sophisticated computer modelling
Chimney gas
Q-Index Code C1

 
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