CP-5 Reactor yard characterization study

Conference · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:10134485

Patel, P B; Swale, R E

This paper presents the results of a characterization study of the yard of the CP-5 Reactor at Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois. Low-level radiological contamination is suspected to have occurred at the yard primarily because of leaks from the cooling tower located in the yard. The CP-5 Reactor was a 5-MW research reactor that operated from 1954 until its shutdown in 1979. The CP-5 yard also stored a number of pieces of scientific equipment that exhibited measurable amounts of radioactivity. The reactor and associated yard area are in the process of being decommissioned. As a preliminary step in this direction, a single exploratory monitoring well was installed in the yard. Levels of hydrogen-3 (tritium) ranged from 6.5 to 15.9 nCi/L, and the level of strontium-90 in groundwater ranged from 1.23 to 3.32 pCi/L. Preliminary characterization included drilling two additional monitoring wells and several soil borings in order to collect sufficient soil and groundwater samples. Samples were analyzed for organic, inorganic, and radiological parameters. Low analytical sensitivity for tritium was emphasized for this project. The RESRAD code was used to convert the radiological results of soil samples into human dosage equivalents.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10134485
• Report Number(s): ANL/EWM/VU--82273; CONF-940406--5; ON: DE94008463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220502
220900
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230
CONTAMINATION
COOLING TOWERS
CP-5 REACTOR
DRILL CORES
GROUND WATER
LEAKS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION MONITORING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT
REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING
REACTOR SAFETY
SAMPLING
SOILS
WELLS