Publication Date:
2014-12-23
Description:
The radioactive contamination of the spent graphite of uranium-graphite reactors is analyzed. The formation of the radioactive contamination during irradiation for 30–35 years is described. The contamination of graphite samples by radionuclides, including the products of activation of impurities and fission products, and by actinides is examined for three commercial uranium-graphite reactors at the Siberian Chemical Combine, the AM-1 reactor at the Physics and Power Engineering Institute, and the thermal column of the IRT reactor at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute. It is concluded that 14 C makes the main contribution to the activity of the graphite. The mass of the radionuclides in the bricks of the I-1, EI-2, and ADE-3 reactors at the Siberian Chemical Combine is presented. Some questions concerning the handling of the spent graphite are examined.
Print ISSN:
1063-4258
Electronic ISSN:
1573-8205
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Physics
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