A one-year study of the total air-borne14C effluents from two Swedish light-water reactors, one boiling water- and one pressurized water reactor

Stenström, Kristina; Erlandsson, B.; Hellborg, Ragnar; Wiebert, Anders; Skog, S.; Vesanen, R.; Alpsten, M.; Bjurman, B.

doi:10.1007/bf02038258

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The emission factors for the Swedish reactor Ringhals 2, the oldest of the four reactors within the Ringhals nuclear plant, are consistently higher throughout the whole period of study (1995–2015) (Figures 3 and S2). 14 C releases from the Swedish NPP have been investigated in the study of Stenström et al (1995), but measurements were taken only from reactors 1 and 4, which are characterized by a lower emission factor than Ringhals 2 in our analysis. For the PWR Ringhals 4 they observed a substantial increase of emissions during the venting of the reactor containment and gas decay tanks, where the cover gas from the primary system is compressed and stored before release, to allow for the decay of short-lived radionuclides.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

CH 4 and CO 2 emissions from geologic sources, which are devoid of radiocarbon ( 14 C), dilute the atmospheric 14 C/C ratio. Observations of 14 C/C can be used to estimate fossil fuel-derived CH 4 and CO 2 . However, the atmospheric 14 C/C ratio is perturbed by emissions of 14 C from nuclear power plants (NPPs) and fuel reprocessing sites, which may affect such 14 C/C-based estimation if they are not correctly quantified. We calculate NPP 14 C emissions for CO 2 and CH 4 from 1972-2016 using standard emission factors ( 14 C emitted per unit of power produced) and analyze trends in global and regional emissions. We use available observations of 14 C emissions and power generation in Europe to assess emission factors for different reactor types, as well as potential differences related to the age or manufacturer of the NPPs. Globally, nuclear 14 C emissions increase until 2005 and then decrease, mostly because of the closure of gas-cooled reactors in the United Kindom and the shutdown of light water reactors after the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. Observed emission factors in Europe show strong variability, spanning values from 0.003 to 2.521 TBq/GWa for PWR and from 0.007 to 1.732 TBq/GWa for BWR reactors, suggesting more information and more sophisticated models are needed to improve estimates of 14 C emissions.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The 14 C emission factors are associated with substantial uncertainties as they vary, for example, due to episodic venting, replacement of resin columns and other maintenance Stenström et al, 1995;Sohn et al, 2004). To examine temporal and site-to-site variability, we compiled available observations of gaseous 14 C emissions and compared them to electrical energy output at several individual PWRs, BWRs, HWRs and GCRs ( Fig.…”

Section: Co 2 Emissions From Individual Nuclear Power Plant Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Continental-scale enrichment of atmospheric 14CO2 from the nuclear power industry: potential impact on the estimation of fossil fuel-derived CO2

Graven¹,

Gruber²

2011

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Since aged carbon in fossil fuel contains no ¹⁴C, ¹⁴C/C ratios (Δ¹⁴C) measured in atmospheric CO₂ can be used to estimate CO₂ added by combustion and, potentially, provide verification of fossil CO₂ emissions calculated using economic inventories. Sources of ¹⁴C from nuclear power generation and spent fuel reprocessing can counteract dilution by fossil CO₂. Therefore, these nuclear sources can bias observation-based estimates of fossil fuel-derived CO₂ if they are not correctly accounted for or included as a source of uncertainty. We estimate annual ¹⁴C emissions from each nuclear site in the world and conduct an Eulerian transport modeling study to investigate the continental-scale, steady-state gradients of Δ¹⁴C caused by nuclear activities and fossil fuel combustion. Over Europe, North America and East Asia, nuclear enrichment may offset 0–260 % of the fossil fuel dilution in Δ¹⁴C, corresponding to potential biases of 0 to −8 ppm in the CO₂ attributed to fossil fuel emissions, larger than the bias from respiration in some areas. Growth of ¹⁴C emissions increased the potential nuclear bias over 1985–2005. The magnitude of this potential bias is largely independent of the choice of reference station in the context of Eulerian transport and inversion studies, but could potentially be reduced by an appropriate choice of reference station in the context of local-scale assessments

show abstract

“…Only a few liters of air are required using 14 C-AMS, compared to 100-1,000 L for decay counting. In a 1-year study, the total airborne 14 C effluents from the stack of two light water reactors were measured continuously over 2-week periods (Stenström et al, 1995(Stenström et al, , 1996a.…”

Section: Classification Of the Construction Materials In A Nuclearmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accelerator mass spectrometry

Hellborg

Skog

2008

Mass Spectrometry Reviews

102

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In this overview the technique of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and its use are described. AMS is a highly sensitive method of counting atoms. It is used to detect very low concentrations of natural isotopic abundances (typically in the range between 10 À12 and 10 À16) of both radionuclides and stable nuclides. The main advantages of AMS compared to conventional radiometric methods are the use of smaller samples (mg and even sub-mg size) and shorter measuring times (less than 1 hr). The equipment used for AMS is almost exclusively based on the electrostatic tandem accelerator, although some of the newest systems are based on a slightly different principle. Dedicated accelerators as well as older ''nuclear physics machines'' can be found in the 80 or so AMS laboratories in existence today. The most widely used isotope studied with AMS is 14 C. Besides radiocarbon dating this isotope is used in climate studies, biomedicine applications and many other fields. More than 100,000 14 C samples are measured per year. Other isotopes studied include 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 41 Ca, 59 Ni, 129 I, U, and Pu. Although these measurements are important, the number of samples of these other isotopes measured each year is estimated to be less than 10% of the number of 14 C samples.

show abstract

A one-year study of the total air-borne14C effluents from two Swedish light-water reactors, one boiling water- and one pressurized water reactor

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

Continental-scale enrichment of atmospheric <sup>14</sup>CO<sub>2</sub> from the nuclear power industry: potential impact on the estimation of fossil fuel-derived CO<sub>2</sub>

Accelerator mass spectrometry

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

A one-year study of the total air-borne14C effluents from two Swedish light-water reactors, one boiling water- and one pressurized water reactor

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

Global and Regional Emissions of Radiocarbon from Nuclear Power Plants from 1972 to 2016

Continental-scale enrichment of atmospheric &lt;sup&gt;14&lt;/sup&gt;CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; from the nuclear power industry: potential impact on the estimation of fossil fuel-derived CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;

Accelerator mass spectrometry

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Continental-scale enrichment of atmospheric <sup>14</sup>CO<sub>2</sub> from the nuclear power industry: potential impact on the estimation of fossil fuel-derived CO<sub>2</sub>