epri radiation safety program · low level waste sampling and characterization guidance background:...
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© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Karen KimSr. Technical Leader, [email protected] International Low Level Waste
Conference and Exhibit ShowJune 21-23, 2016
EPRI Radiation Safety Program
Low Level Waste Research
2© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Radiation Safety Research Focus Areas
ALARA Strategies and Technologies•Combines source term reduction technologies with typical dose reduction tools and work planning improvements to provide a comprehensive strategy for reducing dose to workers.
Radioactivity Generation and Control (Source Term Reduction) – Joint w/Chem.•Understanding radioactivity and radiation field generation and transport processes and tools/technologies to improve control of radioactivity.
Radiation Safety Guidance•Development and maintenance of guidelines, guides and sourcebooks for radiation protection, source term reduction, radiological environmental protection (which includes groundwater), and low level waste.
Radiation Measurements and Dosimetry for Workers and Public•Investigates advanced radiation detection and monitoring technologies for site and environmental monitoring purposes. In addition, more accurate dose calculation methodologies will be investigated to improve the quantification of the dose to workers and the public
Effluent and Radwaste Minimization•Investigates effluent (gaseous, liquid), groundwater remediation, and radwaste minimization technologies and management strategies. Also evaluates the impact to effluent and radwaste programs from changes in plant design or operational factors.
Optimization of Industrial and Radiological Safety (currently unfunded)•Includes research related to the development of technologies and strategies that better meet the needs for an integrated approach to worker protection – radiological and industrial hazards.
Benchmarking and Trending (Fundamental)*•Maintenance of databases for the Standard Radiation Monitoring Programs (SRMP/BRAC) and the industry low level waste benchmarking database, RadBench™.
Low Dose Radiation Health Effects* •Investigates health effects from exposure to ionizing radiation to inform the development of radiation safety standards, radiation protection practices, and communication of risks to workers and the public.
Decommissioning Technology and Strategy*•Investigates technologies and strategies to facilitate the development and execution of a safe, efficient, and cost-effective decommissioning program.
* Not prioritized
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2015-2018 Radiation Safety Projects by Research Focus Area
Radiation Safety Guidance
BTP on Concentration Averaging and Encapsulation Implementation
Guide (2015-2016)
Revision of Interim On-Site Storage Guidelines (2015-2016)
Review of Radiation Safety Guidelines for Revision (2016-2018)
Radiation Measurement and
Dosimetry for Workers and Public
Scaling Factors for I-129 and Tc-99 in Radwaste (2013-2015)
Hard to Measure Radionuclides in Effluents (2014-2016)
Effluent and Radwaste
Minimization
Impacts to Effluents and Radwastefrom Radionuclides and Chemicals Generated from Non-Design Basis
Materials (2017-2019)
Tritium Removal and Reduction Technologies (2018-2019)
Effect of KOH-based pH Program on Radiation Fields, Effluents, and
Radwaste in Western PWRs (2018-2019)
Impact of Fuel Material Changes on Radwaste and Corrosion Behavior
(2018-2019)
Fundamental: Benchmarking and
Trending
RadBench™ Maintenance (ongoing)
Funded Work *New Proposal
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Scaling Factors for Tc-99 and I-129 in LLW Objective:
– Develop generic scaling factors for estimating the concentration of Tc-99 and I-129 in low and intermediate level waste (LILW).
Scope:– Validate Pacific Northwest National Laboratory datasets for Tc-99 and I-129 for use in development of
generic scaling factors.– Develop generic scaling factors.– Validate generic scaling factors using calculations and/or other independent data.
Benefits & Applicability:– More accurate estimation of Tc-99 and I-129 in LILW and radwaste disposal sites.– In the U.S., guidance for implementing an indirect method to estimate Tc-99 and I-129
consistent with NRC Regulatory Information Summary 2015-02 “Reporting of H-3, C-14, Tc-99, and I-129 on the Uniform Waste Manifest”
– May be useful for international nuclear power plants wastes where generic scaling factors are commonly used.
Published EPRI Report 3002005564.
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Scaling Factor Conclusion
The PNNL mass spec datasets for 99Tc and 129I in LILW:– Provide a reasonable basis for generic scaling
factors, the data fits well and has been verified using independent calculation methods
Proposed Indirect Method (RIS 2015-02*)– Perform analysis for 99Tc and 129I in waste to
required sensitivity (1% 61.55 Table 1 a-priori at a minimum)
– When 99Tc and/or 129I results are not positive use a scaling factor from this research to calculate a value as applicable and treat as a positive measurement.
International members should review data and results provided in this report for applicability to their LILW.
Hard-to-Detect
Condition Easy-to-Detect
Scaling Factor
129I When 137Cs is detected
Should be scaled to 137Cs
2.00E-07
129I When 137Cs is not detected
Should be scaled to 60Co
3.20E-08
99Tc When the 137Cs/ 60Co <10
Should be scaled to 60Co
1.30E-06
99Tc When the 137Cs/ 60Co >10
Should be scaled to 137Cs
2.50E-08
*U.S. NRC Regulatory Information Summary 2015-02 “Reporting of H-3, C-14, Tc-99, and I-129 on the Uniform Waste Manifest”
6© 2016 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
Low Level Waste Technical Strategy Group Membership and Offerings
Types of Assessments• On Site Storage• Liquid LLW and Effluent Reduction• High Activity Wet Waste Reduction (B/C** and ILW***)• Site specific media testing• Solid LLW Reduction• Part 61 (Waste) Sample Programs• Others coordinated through project manager
Activities• 4 Webcasts/year• Access to LLW TSG* Collaboration site.• LLW TSG Research• One assessment for each member (over three year membership period.)
2016 MEMBERS
Ameren CFEDuke Energy ElectronuclearExelon LuminantOPPD SouthernSTP TalenTVA
*Low Level Waste (LLW) Technical Strategy Group (TSG)
**Class B and C per United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission radwaste classification
***Intermediate Level Waste
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2016-2017 LLW TSG Research Projects
Low Level Waste Related Knowledge TransferManagement of Hard-to-Detect Radionuclides in Liquid
Radwaste/EffluentsLow Level Waste Sampling and Characterization Guidance
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Low Level Waste Related Knowledge Transfer Background:
– Many new radwaste and low level waste managers entering industry; thus knowledge transfer is needed.
Actions Planned:– Develop a living “Radwaste Knowledge Transfer Document” available on EPRI LLW
TSG Collaboration Site: Focus on the types of knowledge that are not documented in any other (OE)
databases but needs to be passed on. Work with LLW TSG members to define the topical areas. EPRI team to collect information from assessments, industry meetings, LLW TSG
Webcasts, knowledge transfer sessions to populate/update the Document. Also, option to publish as LLW TSG Report periodically.
– Continue to hold Knowledge Transfer discussions during TSG Webcasts and EPRI Low Level Waste Conferences
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Hard-to-Detect Radionuclides in Liquid EffluentsBackground:
– Nuclear power plants are reporting hard-to-detect (HTD) such as Ni-63 and Fe-55 in liquid effluents.
– There exists gaps in knowledge regarding current industry best practices and techniques associated to liquid radwaste HTD analysis and removal.
Objective:– Collate and summarize industry experiences, best practices, and
technologies for HTD analysis and removal from liquid radwastestreams.
– Identify any technical gaps associated to HTD analysis and removal and develop research strategies for closing gaps, as needed.
– Project will focus on Fe-55 and Ni-63 but will remain open to consider other HTDs as identified through EPRI base research.
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Low Level Waste Sampling and Characterization Guidance
Background:– The Low Level Waste Characterization Guidelines (EPRI TR-107201, 1996) has not been updated in 19
years. The industry has, and continues to, implement the use of new media types and configurations and new waste handling and packaging technologies and techniques. Additionally, the industry as a whole has a strong focus on personnel exposure reduction and in general is experiencing strains on station financial and staffing resources.
Objective: – Update the existing document to reflect current characterization options that take into consideration
typical media types, handling and packaging strategies and industry Operating Experience. The technically justified guidance in the update should also reflect industry ALARA standards and/or expectations, and consider the impact the recommended approach(es) would have on site resources.
Expected Benefits:– Characterization guidance that is aligned with today’s equipment, media and practices– More efficient sampling process– Lower personnel exposure
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Issue: Impacts to Radiation Safety from Cycling Power
• Material corrosion behavior
• Primary chemistry• Fuel crud behavior
• Material corrosion behavior
• Primary chemistry• Fuel crud behavior
Corrosion Product Behavior
• Inventory and mobility of activated corrosion products radiation field generation
• Inventory and mobility of activated corrosion products radiation field generation
Radiological Source Term • Increased liquid
radwaste volumes solid radwaste
• Release of effluents to environment
• Increased liquid radwaste volumes solid radwaste
• Release of effluents to environment
Effluents and Radwaste
• Increased monitoring
• Increased exposure
• Increased monitoring
• Increased exposure
RP and Occupational
Exposure
Cycling reactor power may introduce changes that could impact radiation safety programs
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Phase 2: Assess Impact of Load Following on Effluents (Gaseous, Liquid) and Radwaste (2017- 2018)Assess impacts to gaseous and liquid effluents by
collecting data and OE:– Generation of gaseous radwaste– Volume, activity concentration, isotopic composition of
radwaste generated– Capacity of gaseous and liquid radwaste systems– Frequency and volume of releases (continuous or batch)Assess impacts on amount and characteristics of
wet solid waste generation, packaging, transport, and disposal
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EPRI Low Level Waste Research Key Takeaways
Documenting radwaste operating experience for Knowledge TransferContinuing to support current radwaste operations at nuclear
power plants – focusing on enhancements.Looking forward to addressing potential future technical
challenges.
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EPRI Low Level Waste Research Key Takeaways
Past
Document radwasteoperating experience for Knowledge Transfer.
Present
Continue to support radwaste operations at nuclear power plants –enhancements and technical challenges.
Future
Look forward to addressing potential future technical challenges.
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Together…Shaping the Future of Electricity