Reactor Water Chemistry
DOE-HDBK-1015/2-93
CHEMISTRY PARAMETERS
Rev. 0
CH-03
Page 23
Removal of F is accomplished in the same manner as the removal of Cl , that is, by feed and
-
-
bleed or increased flow through the ion exchanger system. Removal by ion exchange, however,
is not as effective as for Cl because of the lower affinity of F for exchange. As in the case of
-
-
Cl contamination, if feed and bleed is the method selected for cleanup, the purity of the makeup
-
water must be verified and other chemistry parameters monitored closely to preclude
aggravation of the existing conditions.
Radioactivity
Radioactivity of the reactor coolant system is monitored and controlled because it is a good
indicator of several conditions that may occur in the system. These include increased corrosion,
crud bursts, fuel element defect or failure, and improper operation of the ion exchanger (where
installed). Radioactivity levels in the reactor coolant system are normally kept at nominal values
during normal conditions by the ion exchanger. In facilities that do not use ion exchangers,
other methods that vary from facility to facility are used to control radioactivity. These include
processes such as chemical cleanup followed by feed and bleed with subsequent disposal
procedures and reactor shutdown in severe cases. Reactor coolant gaseous activity is also
monitored, and it provides an indication of cladding failures and the introduction of air during
reactor operation. Gaseous activity levels are normally controlled by degassification. Operating
limits are established in most reactor facilities to operate the reactor safely, to limit radioactive
releases to the environment, and to prevent excessive personnel exposure during operation and
shutdown.
Tritium
This section provides introductory information about tritium and its properties.
Environmental Sources
Tritium occurs naturally in the environment. Reactions between cosmic rays and upper
atmosphere constituents produce tritium. The following are examples of these reactions.
N + n
H + C
14
1
3
12
7
0
1
6
H + H
H + H
2
2
3
1
1
1
1
1
Tritium becomes incorporated into water and falls to earth as rain. At an estimated
production rate of 4 x 10 Ci/Yr, a world steady state natural inventory of 70 x 10 Ci
6
6
results.
