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Related Experiment Videos

Carbon-14 discharge at three light-water reactors.

C Kunz

    Health Physics
    |July 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study quantifies carbon-14 (14C) releases from US nuclear reactors. Gaseous 14C emissions varied by reactor type, with most released as methane (CH4) in PWRs and carbon dioxide (CO2) in BWRs.

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    Area of Science:

    • Nuclear Engineering
    • Environmental Science
    • Radiochemistry

    Background:

    • Nuclear power plants release radioactive isotopes, including carbon-14 (14C).
    • Understanding the quantity, pathways, and chemical forms of 14C discharges is crucial for environmental monitoring and safety assessments.
    • Previous studies have not comprehensively evaluated long-term 14C release characteristics across different reactor types.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To conduct a long-term sampling evaluation of carbon-14 (14C) releases from pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs).
    • To determine the quantity, discharge pathways, and chemical forms of gaseous 14C released.
    • To compare 14C release characteristics between PWRs and BWRs in the northeastern United States.

    Main Methods:

    • Long-term sampling and analysis of gaseous, liquid, and solid waste streams from three nuclear reactors (two PWRs, one BWR).
    • Quantification of 14C activity using appropriate radiometric techniques.
    • Chemical speciation analysis to determine the forms of 14C (e.g., 14CO2, 14CH4).

    Main Results:

    • Discharge rates of gaseous 14C were 11.6 Ci/GW(e)-yr for R. E. Ginna PWR and 9.6 Ci/GW(e)-yr for Indian Point Unit 3 PWR.
    • J. A. FitzPatrick BWR had a discharge rate of 12.4 Ci/GW(e)-yr.
    • Chemical forms of 14C varied: PWRs released primarily 14CH4 (90% and 74%), while the BWR released mainly 14CO2 (95%).
    • Liquid and solid waste 14C releases were less than 5% of gaseous releases for all reactors.

    Conclusions:

    • Gaseous releases are the dominant pathway for 14C discharge from these reactors.
    • Significant differences exist in 14C chemical speciation between PWRs and BWRs.
    • Reactor type and operational procedures influence the quantity and form of 14C released into the environment.

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