Criticality Accident Conditions -Reply

[Charles Willis <CAW@nrc.gov>]

There is quiite a volume of literature on criticality accidents.  Perhaps the best
place to start is :

R. A. Knief, "Nuclear Criticality Safety, Theory and Practice," ANS, 1985.

The purpose of criticality alarms, and possibly alarming dosimeters, is to facilitate
escape before the second and subsequent pulses.  The first pulse and the resulting
radiation are expected to occur in milliseconds.  Of course a slow power increase is
possible but most unlikely in a criticality accident.

Charlie Willis
caw@nrc.gov