Optimum Water Chemistry in radiation field buildup control
- Vallecitos Nuclear Center, Pleasanton, CA (United States)
Nuclear utilities continue to face the challenGE of reducing exposure of plant maintenance personnel. GE Nuclear Energy has developed the concept of Optimum Water Chemistry (OWC) to reduce the radiation field buildup and minimize the radioactive waste production. It is believed that reduction of radioactive sources and improvement of the water chemistry quality should significantly reduce both the radiation exposure and radwaste production. The most important source of radioactivity is cobalt and replacement of cobalt containing alloy in the core region as well as in the entire primary system is considered the first priority to achieve the goal of low exposure and minimized waste production. A plant specific computerized cobalt transport model has been developed to evaluate various options in a BWR system under specific conditions. Reduction of iron input and maintaining low ionic impurities in the coolant have been identified as two major tasks for operators. Addition of depleted zinc is a proven technique to reduce Co-60 in reactor water and on out-of-core piping surfaces. The effect of HWC on Co-60 transport in the primary system will also be discussed.
- Research Organization:
- US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Regulatory Applications; Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 54626
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CP-0143; BNL-NUREG-52440; CONF-940505-; ON: TI95008770; TRN: 95:012660
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 3. international workshop on implementation of ALARA at nuclear power plants, Long Island, NY (United States), 8-11 May 1994; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the Third International Workshop on the implementation of ALARA at nuclear power plants; Khan, T.A. [comp.] [Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)]; Roecklein, A.K. [Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States). Div of Regulatory Applications]; PB: 810 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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