ALMR containment evaluation

The Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor containment has been evaluated using four hypothetical severe accident scenarios, different leak areas, and different decay heat distribution assumptions. In all cases, the containment pressure was found to increase with time to a maximum value, then decrease to atmospheric pressure, at which point release from the containment stops. The maximum pressure and time at which release stops were found to depend on the accident scenario, leak area and decay heat distribution. For the reference design and leak area, site doses accumulated during the first 36 hours of release were found to be substantially less than the Protective Action Guideline lower limits for evacuation. The analysis also shows that the ALMR can tolerate significant increases in leak areas without exceeding the above dose limits. (author)