Potential radionuclide release rates from marine reactors dumped in the Kara Sea

Warden, J.M.; Lynn, N.M.; Mount, M.E.; Sivintsev, Yu. V.; Timms, S.; Yefimov, E.I.; Gussgard, K.; Dyer, Robert S.; Sjoeblom, K.L.

doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(97)00118-6

Cited by 4 publications

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“…Radionuclide release from the dumped steam generating installations was assumed to be driven by corrosion of the materials forming the reactor structure and nuclear fuel [80]. Applying the best available predictions for corrosion rates in an Arctic environment [81][82][83][84], models were then developed to predict the release rates of the fission product, actinide and activation product inventories in the reactors.…”

Section: Methods and Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the geometry of the structure containing the spent nuclear fuel and the core barrel from the N2 reactor is complicated, modelling the release rates was relatively straightforward [80]. Using pitting corrosion rates applicable to the material of each container acting on the lid welds, it has been assumed that no radioactive material is released from the whole unit until the retaining weld of the Container C lid has corroded off, followed by the retaining weld of the Container B lid.…”

Section: Icebreaker Pressurized Water Reactors and The Fuel Containermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radiological Conditions of the Western Kara Sea: assessment of the radiological impact of the dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas

Kershaw¹

1999

J. Radiol. Prot.

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Section: Methods and Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Icebreaker Pressurized Water Reactors and The Fuel Containermentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiological Conditions of the Western Kara Sea: assessment of the radiological impact of the dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas

Kershaw¹

1999

J. Radiol. Prot.

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“…(90) In addition to the literature on land-based accidents, there is a robust literature on past marine releases, including submarine sinkings, release in marine environments from U.K. and French reprocessing plants and, more recently, from the marine release at Fukushima. (89)(90)(91)(92)(93)(94)(95)(96)(97)(98)(99)(100)(101) The overarching conclusion in this literature is that the long-term impact of marine release on marine biota and human food sources has been much lower than that found in large land-based releases. There remains uncertainty about the very long-term impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial biota from low-level radioactive contamination.…”

Section: Marine Accident Consequencementioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Cost, Safety, and Proliferation Risks of Small Floating Nuclear Reactors

2017

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It is hard to see how our energy system can be decarbonized if the world abandons nuclear power, but equally hard to introduce the technology in nonnuclear energy states. This is especially true in countries with limited technical, institutional, and regulatory capabilities, where safety and proliferation concerns are acute. Given the need to achieve serious emissions mitigation by mid-century, and the multidecadal effort required to develop robust nuclear governance institutions, we must look to other models that might facilitate nuclear plant deployment while mitigating the technology's risks. One such deployment paradigm is the build-own-operate-return model. Because returning small land-based reactors containing spent fuel is infeasible, we evaluate the cost, safety, and proliferation risks of a system in which small modular reactors are manufactured in a factory, and then deployed to a customer nation on a floating platform. This floating small modular reactor would be owned and operated by a single entity and returned unopened to the developed state for refueling. We developed a decision model that allows for a comparison of floating and land-based alternatives considering key International Atomic Energy Agency plant-siting criteria. Abandoning onsite refueling is beneficial, and floating reactors built in a central facility can potentially reduce the risk of cost overruns and the consequences of accidents. However, if the floating platform must be built to military-grade specifications, then the cost would be much higher than a land-based system. The analysis tool presented is flexible, and can assist planners in determining the scope of risks and uncertainty associated with different deployment options.

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“…On 12 August 2000 the nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents with loss of all 118 persons aboard. It is known that nuclear reactors from some former Soviet Union submarines which were decommissioned lie at the bottom of the Kara Sea, though the radioactive releases are considered to be localized [1,2]. In December 2007, the Arktika class ice-breaker with nuclear propulsion -50 Years Victory -started trials for Arctic exploration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simplified model to evaluate the radiological impact of an accident with a nuclear reactor submerged at the sea

2009

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Abstract. There are various scenarios dealing with releases of radionuclides in a water body, for example, accidents in nuclear power plants located in coastal areas, on margins of rivers or lakes. Meager attention has been given, however, to potential accidents with nuclear reactors submerged at sea. The latter type of accidents may occur with partial or total loss of the nuclear reactor core to the adjacent waters. In addition to initial instantaneous releases, one may estimate delayed sources based on rates of leaching or dissolving solid materials which are part of the core. Transport equations were used to estimate concentrations of radionuclides in water. Time dependent functions of concentrations of radionuclides in the aquatic food chain reflect the absorption and elimination processes in the flora and fauna. However, to avoid the multiparametric complexity which can be inserted in these processes, the model takes into proper consideration in a simplified way the transfer of radionuclides through trophic levels. The model avoids the need to analyze step-by-step the details of transfer factors used to determine radionuclide accumulation in fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and algae. This simplified model may help authorities in the case of an accident with a nuclear reactor submerged at sea.

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Potential radionuclide release rates from marine reactors dumped in the Kara Sea

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Radiological Conditions of the Western Kara Sea: assessment of the radiological impact of the dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas

Radiological Conditions of the Western Kara Sea: assessment of the radiological impact of the dumping of radioactive waste in the Arctic Seas

Evaluating the Cost, Safety, and Proliferation Risks of Small Floating Nuclear Reactors

A simplified model to evaluate the radiological impact of an accident with a nuclear reactor submerged at the sea

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