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Title: Release of radioactivity to the Columbia River from irradiated fuel element ruptures

Abstract

McCormack and Schwendiman issued a report in 1959 which estimated the amount of fission products from fuel element failures entering the Columbia River during the period 1952--1958 inclusive. Since that time there have been no attempts made to publish similar information for the subsequent years. It is the purpose of this report to review the fuel element rupture experience of 1964 as somewhat typical of the last few years, and to estimate the amount of significant fission products which entered the Columbia River. The routine measurements of fission products both in the reactor effluent streams and in the Columbia River will be reviewed for comparison purposes.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
General Electric Co., Richland, WA (United States). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10174608
Report Number(s):
RL-REA-2160
ON: DE94016934
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: DN: Declassified; PBD: 27 May 1965
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; FUEL RODS; FAILURES; THYROID; BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; HANFORD PRODUCTION REACTORS; RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS; COLUMBIA RIVER; RADIATION MONITORING; IODINE 131; 220502; 220600; 560162; RESEARCH, TEST, TRAINING, PRODUCTION, IRRADIATION, MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS; ANIMALS, PLANTS, MICROORGANISMS, AND CELLS

Citation Formats

Jerman, P.C., Koop, W.N., and Owen, F.E. Release of radioactivity to the Columbia River from irradiated fuel element ruptures. United States: N. p., 1965. Web. doi:10.2172/10174608.
Jerman, P.C., Koop, W.N., & Owen, F.E. Release of radioactivity to the Columbia River from irradiated fuel element ruptures. United States. doi:10.2172/10174608.
Jerman, P.C., Koop, W.N., and Owen, F.E. Thu . "Release of radioactivity to the Columbia River from irradiated fuel element ruptures". United States. doi:10.2172/10174608. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10174608.
@article{osti_10174608,
title = {Release of radioactivity to the Columbia River from irradiated fuel element ruptures},
author = {Jerman, P.C. and Koop, W.N. and Owen, F.E.},
abstractNote = {McCormack and Schwendiman issued a report in 1959 which estimated the amount of fission products from fuel element failures entering the Columbia River during the period 1952--1958 inclusive. Since that time there have been no attempts made to publish similar information for the subsequent years. It is the purpose of this report to review the fuel element rupture experience of 1964 as somewhat typical of the last few years, and to estimate the amount of significant fission products which entered the Columbia River. The routine measurements of fission products both in the reactor effluent streams and in the Columbia River will be reviewed for comparison purposes.},
doi = {10.2172/10174608},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 27 00:00:00 EDT 1965},
month = {Thu May 27 00:00:00 EDT 1965}
}

Technical Report:

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  • The rate of reaction of highly irradiated U with air, CO/sub 2/, and steam was studied in sn investigation of the fission product release potential in a loss-of-coolant type accident postulated for Pu-producing reactors. Highly irradiated U was found to be more reactive, probably because of the defects in the oxide coating formed by the inclusion of fission products. Complete oxidation or melting was found to release rare gases, I, and Te semi- quantitatively in most atmospheres. Other fission products (Ru, Cs, and Sr) were released to a lesser extent and apparently in proportion to the amount of self- heatingmore » induced. In order of their relative tendency to release fission products, the atmospheric conditions investigated were rated in the order: air > CO/sub 2/ > steam. (auth)« less
  • The failure of a fuel element cladding in one of the water-cooled plutonium production reactors permits the erosion of irradiated uranium metal by the cooling water which is normally disposed to the Columbia River. Monitoring systems at both the reactors and at their effluent basin outlets to the river continuously monitor these streams, and if major fission-products release occurs the coolant can be held in retention basins. In addition to these monitoring systems, a river monitor is located at the 300 area which continuously monitors the gross gamma activity of the Columbia River; however, its sensitivity to rupture debris ismore » limited because of the relatively high background'' from the short-lived (n, {gamma}) produced radionuclides in the river. In making hazard assessments and in providing adequate monitoring techniques and equipment at down-river locations, it is essential to know what changes occur in fission and (n, {gamma}) produced radionuclides following release of rupture products to the river.« less
  • Standard release-recapture analysis using Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) models to estimate survival probabilities between hydroelectric facilities for Snake River fall chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha) ignore the possibility of individual fish residualizing and completing their migration in the year following tagging.
  • The mechanisms and kinetics of uranium corrosion and fuel element ruptures were investigated in water and steam at 170 to 500 deg C and at 100 to 2800 psig. The fuel element samples were coextruded Zircaloy-clad uranium-core rods and tubes which were defected prior to exposure. Uranium corrosion was found to be the sum of two processes; direct oxidation by water, and oxidation of uranium hydride intermediate. Fuel element ruptures occur in two stages; an initial induction period followed by an accelerating corrosion of the core causing the cladding to blister, swell, and fracture. Uranium corrosion and fuel element rupturesmore » were examined with respect to temperature, pressure, steam versus liquid water, heat treatment, carbon content of uranium, zirconium content of uranium, cladding thickness, fuel geometry, annular spacings, defect geometry and size, coolant flow, hydriding of Zircaloy components, and irradiation effects. (auth)« less
  • This report describes an event which occurred on September 29, 1957, during a startup at 100-H Reactor and caused the failure of four fuel elements. The data available subsequent to the startup were analyzed and conclusions are presented herein. During the startup tube power limits were exceeded by some 20 percent. Since the limits in effect were based upon production maximization only, this in itself did not constitute a violation of Process Standard safety limits. The factors pertinent to reactor hazards during the startup were: The rate of total power level rise did not exceed those specified as limits inmore » the Process Standards. The startup conformed to established procedures until a level of approximately 850 MW was attained. Between the 850 and 1200 MW levels errors in judgment and deviation from established operational procedures led to a severe neutron flux distortion and caused high tube powers in a localized region of the reactor. Tube outlet temperature limits, based on pressure monitor protection against the flow reduction to an individual process tube, were not exceeded. 2 figs.« less