Coolant radiolysis and boiling in water-cooled reactors

The objective of this project was to study chemical conditions which affect radiolysis in the core of water cooled reactors. There is a critical hydrogen concentration (CHC) which must be maintained in solution to suppress radiolysis and prevent oxygen formation in any reactor system. We have measured this in a series of experiments in NRU reactor for steam qualities from 0 to 11% at pH 7 and 10.3 (25 degrees C). We have also measured stripping ratios which are defined as the total hydrogen or oxygen or nitrogen per kg of two-phase coolant, divided by the concentration in the liquid at the boiling core exit. The data can be applied to all boiling reactor systems. Radiolysis and its suppression have been studied as a function of [H2], [O2], pH, steam quality, and the presence of organics and inorganics in the water