Re: H-3 production (follow up to C-14 production)

[Gv1@AOL.COM]

The values estimated for H-3 concentrations at BWR's and PWR's is accurate 

enough for approximations.  The BWR value is quite constant, but the PWR value 

has a significant range.  The PWR might start at 1E-02 uCi/g at the start of a 

core reload and grow to a max of 1-2 uCi/g.  The concentration will trend down 

over the second half of the core life as boron is diluted from the reactor 

coolant.  The boron needs to be diluted as fuel burn up increases.  The primary 

production mechanism is n-boron reactions.



With respect to C-14, I believe there is an EPRI doc which looked 

specifically at C-14 and waste disposal.  The C-14 concentrations in BWR's is 

significantly less than PWR's.  Thought to be due to differences with coolant chemistry 

and the fact that a BWR continuously offgases whereas a PWR does not.  C-14 is 

the radionuclide that drives the waste class for reactor coolant filters at 

PWR's, so that also says something about the physical and chemical forms in a 

PWR environment.



Glen