[ RadSafe ] BWR radiation safety issues

[William Lipton]

Keep in mind that PWR's produce a lot more tritium than BWR's, since PWR's
add boron to primary coolant, for fine reactvity control, while BWR's use
recirculation pumps for this purpose.  Neutrons react with B to produce
tritium.  BWR's release much higher levels of noble gases, since the volume
of noncondensible gases is much higher, and does not allow storage prior to
release.

Bill Lipton
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
 On Dec 5, 2011 4:23 PM, "Brennan, Mike (DOH)" <Mike.Brennan at doh.wa.gov>
wrote:

> While there are people here with VASTLY more experience with BWRs than
> me (to the extent I am a reactor guy, I am a PWR fan), it seems to me
> the radioactive isotope BWRs most often get in trouble over is tritium.
> Even if the reactor doesn't have an actual leak of coolant, some tritium
> always seems to get past seals and into the air.  If there is a place
> that moisture condenses out of the air anywhere near the plant, there
> will be elevated tritium.  While it is usually difficult to build an
> exposure scenario in which people can be harmed, that doesn't stop it
> from being of interest to the media.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Kulp, Jeffrey
> B
> Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 10:38 AM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] BWR radiation safety issues
>
> Hello Radsafers,
>
> I would like to call on the expertise of any HP's who have experience
> with boiling water reactors; I am interested in radiation safety issues
> associated with boiling water reactors while operating and shutdown. My
> interest is primarily in the steam, condensate and feed systems. I know
> about N-16 carryover to the steam side of the plant, but I read an
> article recently that discusses problems with Xe, Kr, and Iodine as
> well; these are fission products, are the authors saying that the fuel
> cladding is not able to contain fission product gases? Another article I
> read talks about activated corrosion products in the condensate and feed
> systems. How do the corrosion products become activated, is the
> condensate and feed systems in a BWR plant subject to a neutron flux?
> Any clarification offered will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff Kulp
> Washington State University
> Radiation Safety Office
> Pullman, WA 99164-1302
> (509) 335-8175
>
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