|
|
Development of an online radioactive xenon gas monitoring system for nuclear facilities |
GUO Luzhen, PANG Hongchao, WANG Chuangao, ZHANG Yanbiao, WANG Ying, WU Mengmeng, DONG Xinfang, CHEN Ling |
China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing 102413 China |
|
|
Abstract Objective Nowadays, radioactive xenon isotopes, including 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, and 135Xe, are primarily released into the atmosphere through various reactor operation and major accidents of reactors. To improve the online monitoring capability of xenon in nuclear facilities and their gaseous effluents, a highly sensitive online xenon monitoring system was developed to monitor, warn, and alarm the activity concentration of radioactive xenon. Methods The online monitoring system for radioactive xenon gas in nuclear facilities was established using xenon membrane separation and concentration, xenon high-efficiency selective adsorption, and low-background gamma-ray spectrometry analysis methods. Results Under the operation mode of one-hour sampling and one-hour measuring, the minimum detectable activity concentration of the radioactive xenon online monitoring system for 133Xe was approximately (1.43 ±0.03) Bq/m3. Conclusion This system can be effectively used for online monitoring of xenon activity concentration in nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants and isotope production reactors, as well as in gaseous effluents. It helps improve the safety level of personnel, the environment, and nuclear facilities.
|
Received: 25 July 2023
|
|
|
|
|
[1] Bowyer TW, Kephart R, Eslinger PW, et al. Maximum reasonable radioxenon releases from medical isotope production facilities and their effect on monitoring nuclear explosions[J]. J Environ Radioact, 2013, 115: 192-200. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.07.018 [2] Saey PRJ. The influence of radiopharmaceutical isotope production on the global radioxenon background[J]. J Environ Radioact, 2009, 100(5): 396-406. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.01.004 [3] Galan M, Kalinowski M, Gheddou A, et al. New evaluated radioxenon decay data and its implications in nuclear explosion monitoring[J]. J Environ Radioact, 2018, 192: 628-634. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.02.015 [4] Bowyer TW, Biegalski SR, Cooper M, et al. Elevated radioxenon detected remotely following the Fukushima nuclear accident[J]. J Environ Radioact, 2011, 102(7): 681-687. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.04.009 [5] Saey PRJ, Bowyer TW, Ringbom A. Isotopic noble gas signatures released from medical isotope production facilities—Simulations and measurements[J]. Appl Radiat Isot, 2010, 68(9): 1846-1854. DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2010.04.014 [6] Wotawa G, Becker A, Kalinowski M, et al. Computation and analysis of the global distribution of the radioxenon isotope 133Xe based on Emissions from nuclear power plants and radioisotope production facilities and its relevance for the verification of the Nuclear-Test-ban treaty[J]. Pure Appl Geophys, 2010, 167(4): 541-557. DOI: 10.1007/s00024-009-0033-0 [7] Kalinowski MB, Pistner C. Isotopic signature of atmospheric xenon released from light water reactors[J]. Environ Radioact, 2006, 88(3): 215-235. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2006.02.003 [8] MATTHIAS A. Characterization of the radioxenon back-ground: noble gas monitoring in the IMS[R]. ECS-PRES-16-1-18-2, 2016. [9] 郑金阁, 程卫亚, 王晨潇, 等. 应用CFD方法研究结构对管道内气体混合均匀性影响[J]. 中国辐射卫生,2022,31(2):172-180. DOI: 10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2022.02.008 Zheng JG, Cheng WY, Wang CX, et al. Computational fluid dynamics analysis of influence of different pipe structures on gas mixing uniformity[J]. Chin J Radiol Health, 2022, 31(2): 172-180. DOI: 10.13491/j.issn.1004-714X.2022.02.008 [10] Kalinowski MB, Liao YY, Pistner C. Discrimination of nuclear explosions against civilian sources based on atmospheric radioiodine isotopic activity ratios[J]. Pure Appl Geophys, 2014, 171(3): 669-676. DOI: 10.1007/s00024-012-0564-7 [11] Le Petit G, Armand P, Brachet G, et al. Contribution to the development of atmospheric radioxenon monitoring[J]. J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2008, 276(2): 391-398. DOI: 10.1007/s10967-008-0517-x [12] Ringbom A, Elmgren K, Lindh K. Analysis of radioxenon in ground level air sampled in the Republic of South Korea on October 11-14[R]. [S. l. ]: FOI, 2007. [13] Kalinowski MB, Liao YY. Isotopic characterization of radioiodine and radioxenon in releases from underground nuclear explosions with various degrees of fractionation[J]. Pure Appl Geophys, 2014, 171(3): 677-692. DOI: 10.1007/s00024-012-0580-7 [14] Ringbom A, Elmgren K, Lindh K, et al. Measurements of radioxenon in ground level air in South Korea following the claimed nuclear test in North Korea on October 9, 2006[J]. J Radioanal Nucl Chem, 2009, 282(3): 773-779. DOI: 10.1007/s10967-009-0271-8 [15] Thakur P, Ballard S, Nelson R. An overview of Fukushima radionuclides measured in the northern hemisphere[J]. Sci Total Environ, 2013, 458-460: 577-613. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.105 [16] Kalinowski MB, Tuma MP. Global radioxenon emission inventory based on nuclear power reactor reports[J]. Environ Radioact, 2009, 100(1): 58-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.10.015 [17] Saey PRJ, Wotawa G, De Geer LE, et al. Radioxenon background at high northern latitudes[J]. J Geophys Res, 2006, 111(D17): D17306. DOI: 10.1029/2005JD007038 [18] Saey PRJ, Auer M, Becker A, et al. The influence on the radioxenon background during the temporary suspension of operations of three major medical isotope production facilities in the Northern Hemisphere and during the start-up of another facility in the Southern Hemisphere[J]. J Environ Radioact, 2010, 101(9): 730-738. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2010.04.016
|
|
|
|