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.. R O S ti)N T H A L C O N S U L T I'N G ENGINEER
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TELEPHONE -SUTTER li2871 POSTAL' CODE 9 1 DocgeTro NET"n,bo, 3
+V May 23, 1964-
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The Atomic Energy Commission b4>
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Washington 25, D.C.
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Attentions Mr. Robert Lowenstein, Assistant Director ~of Regulat 6
Referance 50 405 ca 4
Dear Mr. Iowensteins File COPY Your May 21 letter re the Bodega reactor is acknowledged with thanks.
I am sorry, however, that you saw fit to" refer me to the Preliminary Hazards Analysis for ' answers, as it was that report which raised the questions in my mind in the first place.
j j
s The basic question remains the possibility of.a. major, " bomb-like" explosion.
On this point I found the following on pp 214-215 of TID 7024: ".. eventual melting of the fuel elements may result in a dispersion to a suberitical configuration (the reverse also being possible)."
^
For a fast reactor, a statement on the same page indicates that the energy -
equivalent during such dispersion. is "not-nore than that of several
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hundred pounds of TNT."~And'then it.goes on to say that."in addition, 1
it is possible that a thermal reactor under adverse conditions could.
J experience a rapid energy release greater than that in a.well-designed f
fast reactor."
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From the foregoing, I draw the conclusion that there is some probability -
small, perhaps - of setting off explosive shock waves inside the reactor, pressure vessel.
My check of the dimensions, temperatures, pressures, and materials of the vessel indicates that no art,ra factors of _ safety have been taken beyond those ordinarily present for ASME Code construction. (There-is a little guessing here as the PHA indicates "about 'six inches" for vessel ~
wall thinkness. But even a small extra factor of. safety would make the walls over 7-1/4.)
Is the design approach here that we build a suppression vessel outside the pressure-vessel on the supposition that the inner vessel yg1 fail?'
D you feel that there is any inconsistency between the statement's'. in. TID 7024 and your May 21 letter which says "there is 'no possibility that a reactor can explode like.a~ bomb"? I would be happy to be reassured on this as I
,,, x have no great desire for further worry or distraction from agr. obligations to earn a living on less interesting projects.
Y ery truly
- urs, ca
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p Paul Rosenthal B709210027 851217 3
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