Heat stress control in the TMI-2 (Three Mile Island Unit 2) defueling and decontamination activities
During the initial stages of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) defueling and decontamination activities for the reactor building, it was realized that the high levels of loose radioactive contamination would require the use of extensive protective clothing by entry personnel. While there was no doubt that layered protective clothing protects workers from becoming contaminated, it was recognized that these same layers of clothing would impose a very significant heat stress burden. To prevent the potentially serious consequences of a severe reaction to heat stress by workers in the hostile environment of the TMI-2 reactor building and yet maintain the reasonable work productivity necessary to perform the recovery adequately, an effective program of controlling worker exposure to heat stress had to be developed. Body-cooling devices produce a flow of cool air, which is introduced close to the skin to remove body heat through convection and increased sweat evaporation. The cooling effect produced by the Vortex tube successfully protected the workers from heat stress, however, there were several logistical and operational problems that hindered extensive use of these devices. The last type of cooling garment examined was the frozen water garment (FWG) developed by Elizier Kamon at the Pennsylvania State University as part of an Electric Power Research Institute research grant. Personal protection, i.e., body cooling, engineering controls, and administrative controls, have been implemented successfully.
- OSTI ID:
- 5711296
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-881011-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 57; ISSN TANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACCIDENTS
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
AIR CONDITIONING
ALTERNATIVE WORK SCHEDULES
BUILDINGS
CLEANING
CLOTHING
COMMUNICATIONS
CONTAINMENT
CONTAINMENT BUILDINGS
CONVECTION
CRACKS
DECONTAMINATION
DOSES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
ENVIRONMENT
HEAT SINKS
HEAT TRANSFER
LAUNDRIES
LEAKS
MASS TRANSFER
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
PERSONNEL
POWER REACTORS
PRODUCTIVITY
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIATION DOSES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
SERVICE LIFE
SINKS
SURVEILLANCE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL REACTORS
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WORKING CONDITIONS