Ruthenium behavior in the reactor cooling system in case of a PWR severe accident

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 316; no. 1; pp. 161 - 177
• Main Authors: Ohnet, M. N., Leroy, O., Mamede, A. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Accidents; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Cooling systems; Diagnostic Radiology; Fission products; Hadrons; Heavy Ions; Inorganic Chemistry; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Nuclear reactors; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Platinum group compounds; Pressurized water; Pressurized water reactors; Ruthenium; Ruthenium oxide; Stainless steel; Vaporization; Kinetics; Severe accident; Ruthenium transport; Source term; Reactor cooling system
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-018-5743-2

In the frame of severe accident topic for pressurized water reactor, the physical-chemistry of Ru fission products were experimentally studied to better understand their behavior inside the reactor coolant system in air or air/steam atmospheres. The tests consisted in vaporizing RuO 2 at 1200 °C and the ruthenium oxides are transported through a controlled thermal gradient tube made of quartz or pre-oxidized stainless steel. Results show that the major part up to 95% is deposited along the tube, the remaining part being transported almost under gaseous form attributed to RuO 4 . Impact of carrier gas, temperature profile and nature of the tube are discussed.