Recent improvements in identifying fisson product sources in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.13182/NT78-4· OSTI ID:6386413

Lambert, J D.B. ^[1]; So, B Y.C.; Kirn, F S; Armstrong, J R; Ebersole, E R; Laug, M T

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL

The detection of a xenon tag released from an element with breached cladding has proved to be the best method of identifying a source of fission product release in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II. From experience gained from December 1974 to September 1977 in identifying the sources of 25 major releases, allowance can now be made for the composition changes in xenon tags brought about by irradiation and for the presence of more than one tag in the cover gas. This experience has also shown that calculated ratios of fission gas to tag gas in subassemblies can be used in identifying a source of release. An ancillary method, which uses the measured /sup 131/Xe//sup 134/Xe ratio in the cover gas, can also determine whether or not the source is uranium. The success of these recent improvements is reflected in the short time to identify a source and in the small number of other sources, frequently none, that are suspect.

• OSTI ID: 6386413
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 39:3; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
BREEDER REACTORS
DETECTION
EBR-2 REACTOR
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FAILED ELEMENT DETECTION
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FISSION PRODUCTS
ISOTOPE RATIO
ISOTOPES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
XENON ISOTOPES