Patent Number: 046577270
Section: claims

1. The method of classifying emergency levels in operation of nuclear power plants comprising relating offsite radiation dose to the public to functioning of sequential encompassing barriers A, B and C, the relating step comprises relating the offsite does to the public according to the relationship: EQU Dose f(.phi.,t.sub.o, u/p, t.sub.d).times.f(w).times.f(s).times.f(L.sub.F).times.f(L.sub.RCS).times.f (L.sub.C) And where relatively variable functions are:  D=Dose at the site boundary, set at 500 millirems per year;  f(L.sub.C)=function of the leak rate of the containment;  C.sub.RCS =Concentration of radioactive material in reactor coolant system.  C=concentration in uCi/gm.  E=average energy of photon emission from the radioactive material.  calculating f(L.sub.RCS), wherein f(L.sub.RCS) is a function of the leakage rate of the reactor coolant system,  calculating f(L.sub.C), wherein f(L.sub.C) is a function of the leakage rate of the containment  relating possible offsite does to the public according to the calculated functions f(L.sub.F), f(L.sub.RCS), and f(L.sub.C), and  indicating an emergency level based on the relating of the magnitudes of the functions f(L.sub.F), f(L.sub.RCS), and f(L.sub.C), to predetermined acceptable magnitudes of the functions f(L.sub.F), f(L.sub.RCS), and f(L.sub.C), wherein the acceptable magnitudes are based upon possible offsite dose consequences. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the relating step comprises calculating the function of the fuel barrier f(L.sub.F). 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the relating step comprises calculating the function of the coolant barrier f(L.sub.RCS). 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the relating step comprises calculating the function of the containment barrier f(L.sub.C). 5. The method of calculating concentration of radioactive material within a coolant barrier corresponding to fuel barrier breach for the purpose of initial designation of criterion of fuel breach according to the equation EQU C.sub.RCS .alpha.D/f(L.sub.C) 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the concentration of radioactive material in the reactor coolant system is expressed in the form: EQU C/E 7. The method of classifying emergency levels in operation of nucelar power plants comprising relationg possible offsite radiation dose and hazard to the public to functioning of sequential encompassing barriers, fuel cladding, reactor coolant system, and containment, the method comprising, calculating f(L.sub.F), wherein f(L.sub.F) is a function of the leakage rate of the fuel cladding,