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Conference Article: The radiological environmental impact of a commercial advanced gas cooled reactor

Dawson, J.W. (Central Electricity Generating Board, Barnwood (UK). Generation Development and Construction Div.); Youell, F.P. (National Nuclear Corp. Ltd., Knutsford (UK))

Abstract

This Paper considers the principal sources of radiation exposure which contribute to the radiological environmental impact of a Commercial Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor (CAGR). There are three sources of exposure, viz: direct radiation, radiation from gaseous effluent discharges and that from liquid effluent discharges. The Paper describes the sources and defines the calculational route used for the assessment of each of them. It describes the design measures taken to reduce arisings and discharges. In the case of effluents, estimates of the annual discharges are included. The radiological consequences for all three sources are given for a typical CAGR on a semi-urban site. Where possible, the accuracy of the predictions is demonstrated by comparisons with measurements made on an operating station.

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key words: agr type reactors; environmental impacts; man; radiation doses; radiation hazards; radiation monitoring; radioactive effluents; animals; enriched uranium reactors; gas cooled reactors; graphite moderated reactors; hazards; health hazards; mammals; monitoring; primates; radioactive materials; radioactive wastes; reactors; vertebrates
Reference:
Specialists' meeting on safety and accident analysis for gas-cooled reactors. Oak Ridge, TN (USA). 13-15 May 1985
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--358, pp:21-33