Ebook: Radiochemistry in Nuclear Power Reactors

Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1996. — 290 pp.Radiochemical surveillance of a nuclear power plant is an important part of reactor operations. The plant operator is required to continuously monitor fuel performance, correctly account for release of radioactivity through gas and liquid effluents from the plant, and minimize the exposure of personnel to radiation. To satisfactorily accomplish these tasks, proper training must be given to the plant's chemists and technicians. A comprehensive textbook and/or manual is needed for their training, as well as for their use as a reference to develop good radiochemical procedures for routine analyses. Unlike a welldeveloped procedure in a research laboratory, a good procedure for routine analytical work in a nuclear power plant should be simple and easy to follow, yet accuracy should not be compromised. Therefore, the first main objective of this monograph is to provide the plant's chemists not only with the fundamentals, but also with some major practical procedures collected from many years of reactor experience. However, it must be pointed out that the information contained in this monograph is provided for reference purposes only and is not meant to establish a standard procedure. The second main objective of this monograph is to provide enough fundamental materials for academic professionals to bridge the gap between industry and academia in the area of radiochemistry in nuclear power plants. It also serves as an introduction to professionals in other related fields, such as health physics and nuclear engineering.Contents.
Brief description of nuclear power reactor systems and primary coolant chemistry.
Radioactivity productions in nuclear reactors.
Fission products.
Activated corrosion products.
Water and impurity aci'ivation products.
Radiation chemistry in reactor coolant.
Assay of radioactive waste.
Special radiochemical studies.
Appendix.