Determination of sources of antimony radioisotopes entering the drain water due to operation of the VVER-1200 reactor

Determination of sources of antimony radioisotopes entering the drain water due to operation of the VVER-1200 reactor.

Sharov D. A., Semenovykh A. S., Ivanov E. A., Arzhatkin V. G., Krutskikh D. A., Marakulin I. I., Tyapkov V. F., Yudakov A. Yu., Barabin A. V., Gusev I. N., Povarov V. P., Rosnovsky S. V., Statsura D. B., Schukin A. P., Kuryndin A. V.

The article presents the main results of the research work devoted to determination of sources of antimony radionuclides entering the drain water due to operation of the VVER-1200 reactor. The mechanisms of generation and entry of antimony radioisotopes from the primary circuit of the VVER-1200 reactor into drain waters due to leaks were reviewed. An analysis was made for probable sources of antimony entry into the primary coolant based on the results of experimental studies of the content of antimony radioisotopes in drain waters and in liquid media of systems of the VVER-1200 reactor, desktop and experimental studies of the content of stable antimony and tin impurities in structural materials, and modeling of the generation and transfer of antimony radioisotopes in the primary circuit of the VVER-1200 reactor, taking into account the international experience.
Possible ways for solving the problem of the increased content of antimony radioisotopes in liquid media of nuclear power plants in operation and under construction were determined.

Keywords: VVER-1200, primary coolant, drain water, liquid radioactive waste, liquid treatment systems, radioisotope, antimony, tin, activation, deposits.

Article language: Russian. Pp. 82–96. [in Russian]. DOI: 10.26277/SECNRS.2023.108.2.005.