RE: Widow Maker

["Franta, Jaroslav" <frantaj@AECL.CA>]

There are a number of things about the story which I find dubious.

For example, this was the K-19's maiden voyage, so fuel failure is very

unlikely, unless the core overheated. The accounts I've seen say that the

PHT lost pressure, but that the fuel remained submerged (sub reactors have

far less post-shutdown decay heating than large commercial NPPs).

But the sub was equipped with two reactors, and its not clear whether there

is adequate shielding between them to allow repairs of one, while the other

is operating, nor is it clear whether the second reactor was shut down

during the repairs. Thus the repair crew might possibly have been irradiated

by neutrons from the second reactor.

As I said before, many questions but few answers.



Jaro 



http://www.cns-snc.ca/branches/quebec/quebec.html



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^





-----Original Message-----

From: Syd Levine (AnaLog) [mailto:AnaLog@logwell.com]

Sent: Monday February 02, 2004 2:57 PM

To: William V Lipton

Cc: radsafe

Subject: Re: Widow Maker





Enough neutron flux outside the core to make em highly radioactive?



----- Original Message ----- 

From: "William V Lipton" <liptonw@dteenergy.com>

To: "Syd Levine (AnaLog)" <AnaLog@logwell.com>

Cc: "radsafe" <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Monday, February 02, 2004 1:53 PM

Subject: Re: Widow Maker





> Unfortunately, with the fuel damage, coolant leaks, and dose rates I'd

expect

> under those conditions, it makes a lot of sense.

>

> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

> It's not about dose, it's about trust.

> Curies forever.

>

> Bill Lipton

> liptonw@dteenergy.com

>

>

> "Syd Levine (AnaLog)" wrote:

>

> > I saw Widow Maker on a premium channel this weekend.  Some things did

not

> > ring true about the dosimetry.

> >

> > After ten minutes exposure, the guys had immediate symptoms including

burns

> > and throwing up.  They were also so radioactive they were supposedly a

> > danger to others.  They were working in the containment on coolant lines

> > when exposed.  Does this make sense?

> >