Simulation of the Gamma Radiation Distribution Emitted from a PWR Core under Severe Accident-Like Conditions

Using a generic model of a pressurized water reactor, we have defined a set of severe accident-like reactor states depicting various degrees of coolant level decrease and core degradation. We then computed the gamma radiation distribution which would occur outside the reactor pressure vessel in each of the previously defined states using stationary Monte Carlo simulations. This is done in an effort to understand if it is possible to detect the occurrence of certain phenomena from outside the RPV and to eventually develop a system for state detection.