Transfer of irradiated actinide burning subassemblies to the Hot Fuel Examination Facility

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Health Physics

OSTI ID:394048

Courtney, J C ^[1]; Hylsky, E; Phipps, R D ^[2]

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1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
2. Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

To obtain information necessary to determine the consumption rates of {sup 237}Np, {sup 240}Pu, {sup 241}Am, and {sup 243}Am in the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II), two partially fueled subassemblies were irradiated for 6.9 d. Three of the 37 pins in each subassembly were replaced with light metal and actinide dosimeters to measure neutron Spectra as a function of position in and around the EBR-II Core. The short half-lives of several activation products of interest dictated that gamma spectroscopy be conducted as soon as possible after the end of the irradiation. The subassemblies had to be moved from EBR-II to a hot cell, the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), so that the dosimeters could be removed and transferred to the Analytic Chemistry Laboratory. If cooling times before transfer are less than nine days, prediction of on-site and off-site Total Effective Dose Equivalents (TEDE) for accident conditions are required. Inhalation and submersion dose equivalents were estimated for cooling times between 2 and 15 d. All TEDE values for hypothetical accidents occurring while the subassemblies were inside facilities were well below 1 mSv. But if an accident severely damaged the transfer cask while the subassemblies were in transit between facilities, TEDEs could have exceeded 100 mSv to on-site personnel assuming accident consequences were not mitigated. Submersion in {sup 133}Xe and inhalation of {sup 131}I accounted for over 90% of the calculated TEDE. Both transfers were completed Without incident on backshifts with emergency response teams standing by. This study of the consequences of potential accidents allowed measurements to be initiated within 5 d after the end of the irradiation.

• OSTI ID: 394048
• Report Number(s): CONF-9607135--
• Journal Information: Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: Suppl.6 Vol. 70; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
DOSE EQUIVALENTS
DOSEMETERS
EBR-2 REACTOR
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY
INHALATION
IODINE 131
NEUTRON SPECTRA
PERSONNEL
POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
SIMULATION
TIME DEPENDENCE
XENON 133