Re: Nuclear Reactor Fuel Rods are Radioactive Sealed Source

[MontyHP@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-11-25 15:40:40 EST, you write:

<< First, I believe the NRC does treat fuel elements as sealed sources.  
 "Sealed Source" doesn't really connote a lot of meaning (unlike 
 "Special Form", which requires stringent engineering analysis and 
 testing).  You may be reading more info the "sealed source" 
 definition than is actually there.>>

Are fuel elements Registered? (In the sealed source and device registry?)  If
not, then the NRC would license them much like unsealed material (i.e., they
would require the licensee to be capable of handling an equivalent quantity
of unsealed material).  This supposes that the elements were being licensed
to a materials (part 30, 40, 70) licensee.  All bets are off with a Part 50
license.
 
 <<What it does mean is that you don't have to take all the additional 
 precautions necessary for handling loose material (e.g., unsealed 
 sources).  From a practical standpoint, the NRC would have a greater 
 problem authorizing reactors to operate if the core inventory to be 
 dumped into a pool of water instead of being contained in the fuel 
 element.  So treating it like a sealed source has tremendous 
 advantages all around -- especially for used fuel.>>
 
To a certain extent, you are only relieved of the additional precautions if
the devices are registered (in my interpretation, see above).

<< The other advantage of sealed sources is the limited contamination 
 survey requirements (e.g., routine leak tests instead of continual 
 contamination surveys).  >>
Again, only if the device registry specifies leak testing, etc.

<<This advantage is somewhat limited in a 
 power reactor, since neutron activation products show up all over -- 
 especially in BWRs.  So you have to do contamination surveys and 
 bioassays anyway -- but NOT because of the fuel.  Leak testing is 
 done similarly to pool irradiator irradiator sources -- you monitor 
 the pool water. >>
 
<< Wes >>

Noel D. Montgomery, CHP
montyhp@aol.com