Results of analyses performed on concrete cores removed from floors and D-ring walls of the TMI-2 reactor building
The March 28, 1979 loss-of-coolant accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) exposed about 7200 m/sup 2/ of concrete surfaces within the Reactor building to liquid and vapor-phase contaminants. The majority of those surfaces are protected by coatings of epoxy-based, nuclear grade paints. during September 1983, seventeen high quality cores were extracted from the concrete floors and D-ring walls ar the 305- and 347-ft elevations of the Reactor Building. The samples were subjected to a series of analyses to determine the surface concentrations of radionuclides present and to characterize their distribution in the coatings layer and sub-surface concrete. The analysis results indicate the protective coatings provided significant protection against radionuclide penetration. Radiocesium, in most cases, was found to be confined within a few millimeters of the top surface of the coatings layer. However, at floor locations having coatings that were damaged prior to the accident, radiocesium penetrated into the sub-surface concrete to a depth of several centimeters. Parametric calculations performed using the ISOSHLD-2 computer code indicate that the decontamination of the 347-ft elevation floor will reduce the general area gamma exposure rates at this elevation by as much as 40%. The data indicate that scabbling would be an effective decontamination technique.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 6426907
- Report Number(s):
- GEND-INF-054; ON: DE85001455
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
CONTAMINATION
CESIUM 137
CONCRETES
DECONTAMINATION
DEPTH
DRILL CORES
FLOORS
LOSS OF COOLANT
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
RADIOACTIVITY
SAMPLING
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WALLS
ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BUILDING MATERIALS
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CLEANING
COATINGS
DIMENSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety