Re: RBMK fuel

[Jacques.Read@eh.doe.gov]

The Uranium Institute website lists a normal RBMK core as having 140 tonnes of
fuel.  The Chernobyl website states that about eight of those 140 tonnes were
ejected during the positive void coefficient excursion and subsequent explosion.
The 140 tonnes refers to the weight of the fissionable material itself, so the
180 tonnes could easily be the total mass of the fuel elements, including the
cladding.  Or, again, they might be including the control rod materials.  At any
rate, 180 tons (180 English =163 metric) is a bit high.

Jacques.Read@eh.doe.gov




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