Source terms analysis of a maximum release accident for an AGN-201M reactor

The fundamental liability of any nuclear reactor is the possibility of exposing the public and environment to an excessive level of nuclear radiation. In a previous paper, the authors addressed the risk and potential vulnerability assessment of a maximum hypothetical release accident (MHRA) for the AGN-201M reactor at the University of New Mexico. The MHRA is defined as the total release of all radiological effluents from the reactor facility to the environment. A level I probabilistic risk assessment was performed to assess the risk to the public. The type of effluents, total activity, maximum exposure rate, and related health effects associated with an MHRA were analyzed in an attempt to identify the source term and its consequences. The source term was characterized for the worst-case scenario only because the magnitude of the released effluents is deemed ineffectual for any subcategory release