The falcon programme: characterisation of multicomponent aerosols in severe nuclear reactor accidents

Significant quantities of aerosol could be generated from the degrading core of a nuclear reactor during a severe accident. Reactions between these aerosols and the fission product vapours released from the damaged fuel could significantly alter the transport and deposition behaviour of the fission products, modifying the magnitude and form of any radioactive release to the environment. A series of tests of increased complexity have been conducted in the Falcon facility at Winfrith Technology Centre to investigate these phenomena. Results from these tests are being used to test and develop severe accident modelling codes in order that the consequences of such accidents can be predicted with increased confidence.