Fuel Pin Failure

Figure 4.14 shows a fault tree for the undesirable event of a failure of a second fuel pin as a result of an original failure. It is conveniently divided into two cases: that in which only fission gases may emerge from the failed pin and that in which molten fuel is present and may emerge as well. These cases are very different because the emergence of molten fuel could cause sodium coolant vaporization and subsequent high pressures.