14C emission from RBMK-1500 reactors and features determining it

Levels of 14C in the Terrestrial Environment in the Vicinity of Two European Nuclear Power Plants

“…During the initial period of reactor operation, pure nitrogen is used instead of the nitrogen-helium mixture. During this period (approximately 18 months), the formation of 14 C is about 10 times higher than during the subsequent normal operation at rated power (Konstantinov 1989). Measurements performed in 1985-1986 of atmospheric 14 C release at the high-altitude pipe gave a value of 1.4 ± 0.3 TBq/GW e ⋅yr (Konstantinov 1989).…”

“…During this period (approximately 18 months), the formation of 14 C is about 10 times higher than during the subsequent normal operation at rated power (Konstantinov 1989). Measurements performed in 1985-1986 of atmospheric 14 C release at the high-altitude pipe gave a value of 1.4 ± 0.3 TBq/GW e ⋅yr (Konstantinov 1989). Mikhajlov et al (1999) measured the 14 C distribution near the Ignalina NPP, and the highest value found corresponds to a 14 C specific activity of 430 Bq/kg C recorded in 2-yr-old pine cones that were collected at a distance of 5 km east of the location.…”

Modeling of 14C Vertical Distribution in Bottom Sediments of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Reservoir

“…As it was mentioned before, DIC samples in the lake were collected once or twice a year only from 1979 to 2009. In other temperate lakes, it was observed that during the warm period, when there is a high intensity of photosynthesis, the daily 13 C/ 12 C values of DIC as well as DIC concentration itself could be highly variable [28][29][30][31][32]. This means that not only seasonal [33] but also diurnal changes in 14 C specific activity values in DIC are also possible.…”

“…The boiling water reactors (BWRs) and heavy water reactors (HWRs, CANDU type) as well as gas cooled reactors (HTGR, AGR, Magnox) release 14 C mainly as carbon dioxide; whereas discharges from pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are dominated by hydrocarbons such as methane or ethane [1, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The discharges from light-water-cooled graphite-moderated reactors (RBMK), which operated at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP), are of carbon dioxide form 14 C [11,12] and are similar to other BWRs. The INPP located in north-eastern Lithuania operated two RBMK-1500 units (design electric power 1500 MW e ).…”

Annual Variations of 14C Concentration in the Tree Rings in the Vicinity of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

“…The boiling water reactors (BWRs) and heavy water reactors (HWRs, CANDU type) as well as gas cooled reactors (HTGR, AGR, Magnox) release 14 C mainly as carbon dioxide 14 CO 2 , whereas discharges from pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are dominated by hydrocarbons such as methane or ethane (Kunz 1985; Veres et al 1995; Stenström et al 2000; Yim and Caron 2006; Mazeika et al 2007). In light-water-cooled, graphite-moderated reactors (RBMK) 14 C is released mainly in the form of 14 CO 2 (Gaiko et al 1985; Konstantinov et al 1989) as typical for the BWRs. Gaiko et al (1985) reported that ~90% of the total 14 C was produced in the graphite moderator of the RBMK reactor, however, is not expected to be available for release during normal operation of the reactor.…”