Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Nuclear Physics Group, Faculty of Basic Science, Comprehensive University of Imam Hossein, Tehran, Iran
2 Faculty of Nuclear Engineering, University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran
3 Chemistry Group, Faculty of Basic Science, Comprehensive University of Imam Hossein, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
During the operation of Graphite -fuel HTGR (High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor) nuclear reactors, Graphite used as a neutron moderator, is irradiated and has a variety of contaminants (such as Cs-137, Co-60, and Sr-90) and due to industrial and environmental considerations, decontamination of irradiated Graphite is very important. In this study, the decontamination of Cs-137 trapped in Graphite pores of Graphite -fuel (HTGR) nuclear reactors has been analyzed. The proposed method for decontamination of irradiated Graphite surfaces is the thermal plasma-sputtering method with noble feed gases, which are used to reduce the risk of radioactive Graphite waste and in this regard, a mathematical model was developed to describe the process of decontamination of irradiated Graphite, which is prone to release Wigner energy due to defects and torsion caused by radiation. The results show that the decrease in radiation pollution of irradiated Graphite waste and various parameters of its decontamination process depend on the release of Wigner energy. The results obtained are in good agreement with the other researchers results.
Highlights
- The decontamination of Cs-137 from irradiated graphite is investigated using the plasma-sputtering method.
- The results show that the decrease in radiation pollution depends on the release of Wigner energy.
- This study demonstrates the benefits of using noble gases as a plasma feed gas in the plasma decontamination process.
- The results can be used to decontamination of various types of irradiated porous materials used in nuclear systems.
- Researchers of radiation safety, nuclear waste management and nuclear decommissioning will be interested in the results.
Keywords