Reduction of 41Ar Environmental Releases at Research Reactors.

Abstract

The reactor facility at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute consists of a TRIGA Mark-F reactor with two large walk-in exposure rooms and a pneumatic tube facility. Operation of the reactor adjacent to these rooms results in signigicant 41Ar production rated due to the high thermal neutron leakage from the core and from the albedo off the walls. The leakage and albedo have been reduced by placing panels painted with gadolinium-loaded paint on the walls and ceiling of the rooms and reactor tank protrusion. Calculations and measurements show that the 41Ar production rate and consequently the effluent release to the environment have been decreased by a factor of 10 to 20, depending on the operational configuration of the reactor. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1973
Accession Number
AD0770115

Entities

People

  • D. M. Verrelli
  • L. A. Slaback Jr
  • R. E. Carter

Organizations

  • Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Environment
  • Gadolinium
  • Measurement
  • Neutrons
  • Production
  • Production Rate
  • Radiobiology
  • Research Reactors
  • Thermal Neutrons

Readers

  • Environmental Engineering.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Thermal Physics or Thermal Science.