Tritium inventory prediction in a CANDU plant

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Waste Management

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-053X(96)00017-7· OSTI ID:404444

Song, M J; Son, S H; Jang, C H ^[1]

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1. Korea Electric Power Research Inst., Daejon (Korea, Republic of)

The flow of tritium in a CANDU nuclear power plant was modeled to predict tritium activity build-up. Predictions were generally in good agreement with field measurements for the period 1983--1994. Fractional contributions of coolant and moderator systems to the environmental tritium release were calculated by least square analysis using field data from the Wolsong plant. From the analysis, it was found that: (1) about 94% of tritiated heavy water loss came from the coolant system; (2) however, about 64% of environmental tritium release came from the moderator system. Predictions of environmental tritium release were also in good agreement with field data from a few other CANDU plants. The model was used to calculate future tritium build-up and environmental tritium release at Wolsong site, Korea, where one unit is operating and three more units are under construction. The model predicts the tritium inventory at Wolsong site to increase steadily until it reaches the maximum of 66.3 MCi in the year 2026. The model also predicts the tritium release rate to reach a maximum of 79 KCi/yr in the year 2012. To reduce the tritium inventory at Wolsong site, construction of a tritium removal facility (TRF) is under consideration. The maximum needed TRF capacity of 8.7 MCi/yr was calculated to maintain tritium concentration effectively in CANDU reactors.

• OSTI ID: 404444
• Journal Information: Waste Management, Journal Name: Waste Management Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 15; ISSN WAMAE2; ISSN 0956-053X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
CANDU TYPE REACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FORECASTING
INVENTORIES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
TRITIUM