The Use of Aqueous Foam to Reduce Radioactive Material Dispersal in Sabotage Incidents

One potential type of sabotage incident in a nuclear facility involves the use of a large quantity of high explosive to disperse radioactive material into the atmosphere. This paper discusses the possible use of aqueous foam to reduce the consequences of such an event under the assumption that the location of tne explosive is known and that some minimal time is available to emplace a mitigation system. Work conducted over the past several years has shown that low expansion ratio aqueous foams (e.g., 60 parts of air to one part water-soap concentrate solution by volume) exhibit exemplary properties in reducing the effects of a detonation. Not only does the foam significantly reduce the release of fine particulate which attempt to pass through it, but it also exhibits unusual pressure attentuation properties. Data demonstrating both the particle capture and pressure attenuation properties are presented along with information relative to generation of foam and some of the logistical constraints involved in its use.