This programme sets out to reduce uncertainties when evaluating the environmental release of radioactive products such as iodine or ruthenium following a core meltdown accident in a pressurised water reactor (PWR). The experimental data gained from this programme are used to develop and validate numerical simulation tools needed to assess the consequences of such an accident and to evaluate the efficiency of the prevention means.
SOURCE TERM is an international research programme carried out by IRSN and CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique) with the support of Electricité de France, the European Commission, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US), GDF/ SUEZ/ Tractebel (Belgium), Atomic Energy Canada Limited (Canada), the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (representing a South Korean consortium).
This programme has a budget of about €30 million over 5 years to investigate four different experimental topics:
- Studying iodine chemistry.
- Degradation of boron carbide (B4C) control rods.
- Consequences of fuel rod heating in air.
- Fission product releases from irradiated fuel at high temperature.
Facility is closed.