Long-lived residual activity characteristics of some liquid metal coolants for advanced nuclear energy systems

Conference · Wed Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:23142157

Oussanov, V. I.; Pankratov, D. V.; Popov, E. P.; Markelov, P. I.; Riabaya, L. D.; Zabrodskaya, S. V. ^[1]

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1. State Scientific Center Institute of Physics and Power Engineering, Bondarenko Sq. 1, 249020 Obninsk (Russian Federation)

A long-term residual activity of sodium, lead-bismuth and lead coolants for advanced nuclear systems with fast neutron spectrum is compared and discussed. The coolants are exposed during fifty years to a neutron flux of a high intensity. The results allow to draw interesting conclusions regarding the possible strategies of spent coolant future disposal as radioactive waste. The long-term residual activity of lead and lead-bismuth is defined by an activation of the main coolant's components: bismuth and lead. This activity is higher of the modem exemption levels practically forever. The waste disposal strategy most likely to be applied for spent coolants of this kind is underground burial. On the contrary, in pure sodium neutrons does not generate perceptible quantity of the radionuclides with a half life more than 2.6 years. Extemal contamination of a sodium coolant can be radically decreased with chemical and technological methods. The paper concludes, generally, that a concept of the ecologically pure nuclear power can be realized provided that not only the long-lived radioactivity of spent fuel is burned up or transmuted but the long-lived radioactivity of all spent reactors' materials is radically decreased as well.

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 23142157
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
BISMUTH
BURNUP
COOLANTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FAST NEUTRONS
HALF-LIFE
LEAD
LIQUID METALS
NEUTRON FLUX
NEUTRON SPECTRA
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR POWER
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPES
SODIUM
SPENT FUELS