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Behaviour of iodine species in the Windscale AGR

Journal Article · · J. Brit. Nucl. Energy Soc., v. 12, no. 4, pp. 443-446
OSTI ID:4397402
Several fuel pins with deliberately defective cans were irradiated in the windscale AGR. Associated with these experiments, a /sup 131/I monitoring programme was carried out, in which CO/sub 2/ coolant from channels containing this experimental fuel, and from other channels, was passed through samplers that permitted the physical and chemical form of the iodine to be assessed by selective filtration sorption or reaction. The release of iodine from operational fuel pin failures was also studied. A separate experiment, in which methyl iodide was injected into the reactor coolant circuit, was carried out. The results indicated that the /sup 131/I release is principally in the form of methyl iodide. The iodine has a chemical decomposition half-life of 2 1/2 min, similar to that of methyl iodide injected into the coolant circuit. This half- life corresponds to a value of 4500 for the ratio of steady-state /sup 131/I release from the fuel pin to that remaining gas-borne, which is the decontamination factor. It also corresponds to a deposition velocity of 0.02 cm/ sec to the cooler parts of the heat exchangers where iodine was found to be deposited. (UK)
Research Organization:
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Sellafield, Eng.
NSA Number:
NSA-29-011800
OSTI ID:
4397402
Journal Information:
J. Brit. Nucl. Energy Soc., v. 12, no. 4, pp. 443-446, Journal Name: J. Brit. Nucl. Energy Soc., v. 12, no. 4, pp. 443-446; ISSN JBNSA
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English