Event Classification

It now remains to put accidents to the plant in their respective probability ranges. Table 3.4 gives a prospective listing of accidents, but this list is by no means final for any given plant, each system having to be considered on its own merits. Such a list is prepared on the basis of engineering judg­ment, although in the future it is expected that a qualitative classification will be defensible.

TABLE 3.4

Classification of Events by Likelihood

Likelihood class

Event

Operational occurrences Reactivity control withdrawal error at power or start-up Random fuel failures

Unlikely faults

Human error Flow control error

Loss of one pump flow due to loss of electrical supply

Small seismic shock

Feedwater heating supply failure

Turbine stop-valve closure

Loss of cover gas pressure

Steam generator tube failure

Offsite power failure

Loss of onsite auxiliary power

Failure of control rod hold-down mechanism

Operating basis earthquake

Pump mechanical failure

Small pipe leaks

Large bubbles reaching the core

Loss of primary scram following an operational occurrence Independent active component failure following an opera­tional occurence (see Section 3.3.4)

Unexpected faults

Large system ruptures Large sodium fire

Failure of core support allowing core movement Design basis earthquake Very large bubbles reaching the core Passive component failure following an operational occurrence (see Section 3.3.4)

Loss of scram following an operational or unlikely fault Loss of offsite and onsite power supplies

Incredible faults

A refueling accident leading to criticality Rod ejection

Sudden local subassembly blockage