ML19312E438
| ML19312E438 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 04/03/1980 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Schiff C AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006040405 | |
| Download: ML19312E438 (1) | |
Text
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WPasedag APR 3 1980 GKnighton JMillerr q:
G; DEisenhut Ms. Claire J. %.niff HDenton l
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51 Evergreen Road RHouston Summit, N.J. 07901 LSoffer DRMuller
Dear Ms Schiff:
fEGroff ECase This is in reply to your letter of February 22, 1980, concerning the storage of spent fuel rods.
The " dangerous levels of radioactivity" that Robert Jungk refers to in his excerpt are probably due to the number of fuel rods that accumulate, rather than the radioactivity of a single rod.. A few words of background are in
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order here: After nuclear fuel rods have been in a reactor a certain time.
usually about three to four years, they are considered " spent" and removed
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from the reactor and placed in what we in the U.S. call a " spent fuel storage pool." similar to what Robert Jungk refers to as a cooling basin. A spent J
fuel storage pool has reinforced concrete wall 8-12 feet thick, a concrete base about 20 feet thick, and is 40 feet deep. The water level is always at least 10 feet above the top of the fuel rod assemblies.
In the pool, the rods are cooled by the sur,ounding water, and they become less radio-active due to the decay of the fission products with time.
The radiation emitted from the spent fuel rods is absorbed by the surrounding material, but this in itself does not cause the surrounding water or the concrete walls to become radioactive. A small release of radioactive mhterial from the fuel rods into the cooling water does occur, but this is monitored, and is controlled by cycling some of the water through a liquid waste cleanup system. This system can maintain the concentration of radioactive at an acceptable low level, even if the number off stored fuel rods increases.
The planned increase in storage capacity at the Salem nuclear generating stations undergoes thorough review at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
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We have determined that storing the fuel assemblies closer together will not result in an unacceptably high level of radiation in the pool.
The level of radioactivity may fluctuate with the addition or removal of fuel rods and the natural decay of the fission products in the rods, but the depth of water in the pool and the massive concrete walls are sufficient protection for both plant personnel and the public.
Sincerely.
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" Original signed by f'3
' Darrell G. Eisenhut si M p'[
Darrell G. Eisenhut, Acting Director
_t g36 Division of Operating Reactors "
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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n Central Files EEB Files PEasley WPasedag GKnighton JRMIller DEisenhut Ms. Claire H. Schiff HDenton 51 Evergreen Road RHouston Sinuit. N. J.
07901 LSoffer DRMul k r
Dear Ms. Schiff:
MMGroff This is in reply to your letter of February 22, 1980, concerning'the storage of spent fuel rods.
The " dangerous levels of radioactivity" that Robert Jungk' refers to in his excerpt are probably due to the number of fuel rods that accumulate, rather than the radioactisjty of a single rod. A few words'of background are in order here: After nuclear fuel rods have been in'a reactor a certain time, usually about three to four years, they are cons'idered " spent" and removed froc: the reactor and placed in what we in the'U.S. call a " spent fuel storage pool." similar to what Robert Jungk refers'to as a cooling basin. A spent fuel sto, age pool has reinforced concrete' wall 8-12 feet thick, a concrete base about 20 feet think, and is 40 feet deep. The wate) level is always at least 10 feet above the top of the~ fuel rod assen611es.
In the pool, the rods are cooled by the surrounding water, and they become less radio-active due to the decay of the fission products with time. The radiation emitted from the spent fuel rods is absorbed by the surrounding material,
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but this.in itself does not cause :the surrounding water or the concrete walls to become radioactive. A small release of radioactive material from the fuel rods into the cdoling water does occur, but this is monitored, and 1s controlled by cyclin'g some of the water through a liquid wasta cleanup sys.:em.
This system /can maintain the concentration of r-dioactivity at an acceptable low level, even if the number of stored Tuel rods increases.
The planned incre/
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ase in storage capacity at the Salem nuclear generat og stations undergo thorough reWew at the Nue:1~eah Regulatory Commission. We-have determined that storing the fuel assenbli.es closer together will not
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result in an' unacceptably high level of radiation in the pool. The level s
of radioactivity may fluctuate with the addition or removal of fuel rods and the atural decay of the fission products in th'e rods, but the depth s
of wa in the pool and the massive concrete walls are sufficient pro-tection for both plant personnel and the public.
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Sincerely, c.
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Darrell G. Eisenhut, Acting Director Division of Operating Reactors
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Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation omcc).fEB:003.T EEB:D0R
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