INTERNATIONAL WONUC CONFERENCES
NUCLEAR DESALINATION :
CHALLENGES AND OPTIONS

16 - 18 October, 2002
Marrakesh, Morocco

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TRITIUM MIGRATION IN NUCLEAR DESALINATION PLANTS

E.D.Muralev
Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Complex,
Aktau, Kazakhstan

Tritium transport, as one of important items of radiation safety assessment should be taken into consideration before construction of Nuclear Desalination Plant (NDP). Influence of tritium internal exposition to human body is very dangerous because of 3H associations with water molecules. The problem of tritium in Nuclear Engineering is connected to its high penetration ability (through fuel element cans and other construction materials of reactor), with difficulties of tritium extraction from process liquids and gases.

Sources of tritium generation in NDP are: nuclear fuel, boron in control rods, and deuterium in heat carrier.

Tritium passes easy through walls of reactor vessel, intermediate heat exchangers, steam generators and other technological equipment, through walls of heat carrier pipelines.

The release of tritium and its transport could be assessed, using mathematical models, based on the assumption that a steady state equilibrium has been attained between the sources of tritium, produced water and release to environment.

Analysis of model shows the tritium concentration dependence in potable water on design features of NDP. The calculations obtained and analysis results for NDP with BN-350 reactor give their good convergence. According to available data, tritium concentration in potable water is less than statutory maximum concentration limit.

Design of NDP requires elaboration of technical solutions, capable to minimize the release of tritium to potable water produced.