Open AccessTritium distribution in the MHTGR
Author(s) -
R. Acharya
Publication year - 1988
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/714874
Subject(s) - graphite , helium , nuclear engineering , tritium , fission products , radiochemistry , chemistry , fission , nuclear physics , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , physics , atomic physics , neutron , engineering , chromatography , organic chemistry
The {sup 3}H production, transport and environmental release from the 350 MW(t) Modular High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor was analyzed. The analysis was performed using a modified TRITGO computer code, plant data base from the Preliminary Safety Information Document and materials property data from the Fuel Design Data Manual, Issue F. The analysis indicates that most of the {sup 3}H produced in the reactor is retained by the fuel particles and the structural graphite elements. The single largest source of {sup 3}H is ternary fission in the fuel particles, of which 95% is retained by the particles. The {sup 3}H released from the core and the {sup 3}H produced by {sup 3}He activation are largely removed by the Helium Purification System. Assuming zero leakage of water from the secondary system, the average predicted {sup 3}H activity in the secondary water of 0.35 {mu}Ci/g is much greater than the allowable activity of 5 pCi/g for direct discharge into the environment. If any of the secondary water has to be discharged, it must be diluted prior to discharge. 10 refs., 9 figs