Engineering practices to minimize occupational exposure in new generation nuclear power plants

The concept of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) is now mandatory for operators of nuclear power generating plants. The first opportunity to implement ALARA practices for reducing occupational exposure is during the design and construction of plants and components for the primary systems. Component surface pretreatment has been shown to be very effective in reducing future deposition of activation (and fission) products on these surfaces. The Electric Power Research Institute, and others, have developed viable chemical and electrochemical surface treatment processes which have been used for replacement components in conventional plants. These processes have resulted in significant reductions in deposition of radioactive materials and reduced surface corrosion, and thus, reduced radiation levels from the primary system components. An even greater opportunity to apply these practices of surface pretreatment is present for new generation power stations while in the design stages