Probabilistic safety analysis for the Triga reactor Vienna

Triga-type reactors are the most widely used low power research reactors with power levels up to 3 MW. Although Triga reactors are considered inherently safe, due to their unique features such as prompt negative temperature coefficient and low power density, the reactor core still contains a respectable amount of activity which could lead under very adverse circumstances to radiation exposure both of staff members and of public. Such circumstances could be external events, accidents during fuel element manipulation or a loss of coolant water with exposure of the core. Therefore, it was decided to look more closely to various accident pathways and to calculate their probability, if possible. A major drawback is the lack of statistical material because no centralized registration of failures is carried out. Therefore, in many cases values from other research reactor types or even from power reactor statistics had to be used, thus increasing the uncertainty of the results. As most undesired event or TOP-event in this analysis a radiation exposure of staff members, the public or both together was selected and the probabilities of different pathways leading to this exposure was calculated. In the present case 'radiation exposure' are dose rates or activity concentration above the international accepted limits for occupational staff or public. 20 refs., 10 figs. (Author)