Dose reduction improvements in storage basins of spent nuclear fuel
Spent nuclear fuel in storage basins at the Hanford Site has corroded and contaminated basin water, which has leaked into the soil; the fuel also had deposited a layer of radioactive sludge on basin floors. The SNF is to be removed from the basins to protect the nearby Columbia River. Because the radiation level is high, measures have been taken to reduce the background dose rate to as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) to prevent radiation doses from becoming the limiting factor for removal of the SW in the basins to long-term dry storage. All activities of the SNF Project require application of ALARA principles for the workers. On the basis of these principles dose reduction improvements have been made by first identifying radiological sources. Principal radiological sources in the basin are basin walls, basin water, recirculation piping and equipment. Dose reduction activities focus on cleaning and coating basin walls to permit raising the water level, hydrolasing piping, and placing lead plates. In addition, the transfer bay floor will be refinished to make decontamination easier and reduce worker exposures in the radiation field. The background dose rates in the basin will be estimated before each task commences and after it is completed; these dose reduction data will provide the basis for cost benefit analysis.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, Washington, DC (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-96RL13200
- OSTI ID:
- 16943
- Report Number(s):
- HNF-SA-3158-FP; ON: DE99050157; BR: EW7040000; ON: DE99050157; BR: EW7040000; TRN: US0111122
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 13 Aug 1997; Supercedes report DE99050157; PBD: 13 Aug 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
COLUMBIA RIVER
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DECONTAMINATION
DOSE RATES
DRY STORAGE
SPENT FUELS
RADIATION DOSES
FUEL STORAGE POOLS
HANFORD RESERVATION
SLUDGES
RADIATION PROTECTION