Evaluation of radiological safety according to accident scenarios for commercialization of spent resin mixture treatment device

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 54; no. 7; pp. 2606 - 2613
• Main Authors: Choi, Woo Nyun, Byun, Jaehoon, Kim, Hee Reyoung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 01.07.2022; 한국원자력학회
• Subjects: 14C; Accident scenario; External & internal exposure; Spent resin mixture; 원자력공학
• ISSN: 1738-5733; 2234-358X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2022.01.025

Spent resin often exceeds radiation limits for safe disposal, creating a need for commercial-scale treatment techniques to reduce resin radioactivity. In this study, the radiological safety of a commercialized spent resin treatment device with a treatment capacity of 1 ton/day was evaluated. The results confirm that the device is radiologically safe in the event of an accident. This device desorbs 14C from the spent resin, allowing disposal as low-level waste instead of intermediate-level waste. The device also reduces overall waste by recycling the extracted 14C. Potential accident scenarios were explored to enable dose assessments for both internal and external exposure while preventing further spillage of the device and processing the spilled resin. The scenarios involved the development of a surface fracture on the resin mixture separator and microwave systems, which were operated under pressure and temperature of 0–6 bar and 0–150 °C, respectively. In the case of accidents with separator and microwave device, the maximum allowable working time of worker were derived, respectively, considering external and internal exposures. When wearing the respirator corresponding to APF 50, in the case of the microwave device accident scenario, the radiological safety was confirmed when the maximum worker worked within 132.1 h.