Improve protective clothing and reduce radwaste

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:411569

Johnstone, G A ^[1]; Fryer, J ^[2]; Smith, J M ^[3]

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1. Interstate Nuclear Service Corporation, Springfield, MA (United States)
2. Indiana/Michigan Utilities, Bridgman, MI (United States)
3. Precision Fabrics Group, Inc., Greensboro, NC (United States)

Nuclear power plants have been reducing radioactive waste production through aggressive volume reduction and control at the point of generation. Waste reduction efforts may, however, have reached a plateau. Certain items, such as protective clothing, are a necessary part of plant operations and cannot be eliminated. There are more than 800,000 sets of protective clothing currently in use at U.S. nuclear plants. Since up to 25% of these garments are removed from service each year, spent protective wear accounts for {approximately}100,000 ft{sup 3} of prevolume reduced waste annually. Furthermore, up to 10% of dry active waste produced at commercial power reactor sites is comprised of exhausted protective clothing and related goods. This report describes the design of protective clothing which lasts longer and is lighter than traditional fabrics.

• OSTI ID: 411569
• Report Number(s): CONF-951006--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 73; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
DESIGN
MINIMIZATION
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
VOLUME
WEAR
WEIGHT