Abstract
An ex-vessel aerosol and fission-product source term may arise from various events occurring in the containment building of a nuclear reactor. The research into the source terms associated with three of these events is reviewed. These source terms are from steam explosions, pressurized melt ejection, and melt/concrete interaction. The least is known about the steam explosion source term. Analyses indicate that its magnitude is likely lower than that assumed in the Reactor Safety Study (WASH-1400), but no conclusive experimental data are as yet available. The aerosol and fission-product source term from pressurized ejection of melt is an issue only recently addressed. Experimental evidence has allowed estimates to be made of the magnitude of this source term. The source term from melt/concrete interaction has been long recognized and has the largest data base. Experimental programs have addressed this source term for several years. A mechanistic model of material release has been developed and is discussed.
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