Use of electrochemical potential to predict radiation buildup on nuclear reactor coolant piping

Claim 1

The method of determining the long-term radiation levels of a water-cooled nuclear reactor cooling system, comprising the steps of: (a) Inserting a dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (b) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (c) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (d) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (e) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (f) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step e; and (g) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step d.

Claim 2

The method of determining the long-term radiation levels of a water-cooled nuclear reactor cooling system, comprising the steps of: (a) Inserting a dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (b) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (c) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (d) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (e) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (f) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step e; and (g) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step d.

Claim 3

The method of determining the effects due to controlled or uncontrolled changes that may have occurred in the water chemistry of a nuclear reactor on the long-term radiation levels from the cooling system of that reactor, comprising the steps of: (a) Inserting a dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (b) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (c) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (d) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (e) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (f) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step e; and (g) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step d.

Claim 4

The method of determining the effects due to controlled or uncontrolled changes that may have occurred in the water chemistry of a nuclear reactor on the long-term radiation levels from the cooling system of that reactor, comprising the steps of: (a) Inserting a dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (b) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (c) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (d) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (e) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (f) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step e; and (g) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step d.

Claim 5

The method of determining the effects due to proposed changes in water chemistry and reactor-operational parameters on the long-term radiation levels from a water-cooled nuclear reactor cooling system, comprising the steps of: (a) Changing temporarily the water chemistry and reactor operational parameters to reflect the proposed changes; (b) Inserting as dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (c) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (d) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (e) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (f) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (g) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step f; and (h) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step e.

Claim 6

The method of determining the effects due to proposed changes in water chemistry and reactor-operational parameters on the long-term radiation levels from a water-cooled nuclear reactor cooling system, comprising the steps of: (a) Changing temporarily the water chemistry and reactor operational parameters to reflect the proposed changes; (b) Inserting as dual-electrode electrochemical potential measuring device, including an unprefilmed measuring electrode and a secondary standard electrode, into a continuously flowing sample line from any selected point in the plant cooling system; (c) Wherein said electrochemical potential measuring device utilizes at least one unprefilmed measuring electrode fabricated from the same metal as the cooling system; (d) Collecting electrochemical potential data beginning immediately after the electrode insertion and continuing over a predetermined measurement period; (e) Determining the normalized electrochemical potential fractions by dividing each electrochemical potential measurement result by the measured or interpolated electrochemical potential after a prescribed short exposure period; (f) Determining the slope of the straight line through the data points created by plotting the normalized electrochemical potential fractions versus the logarithm of time in hours; (g) Dividing the average of the measured values of the Co-60 concentration in the cooling water by the slope determined in step f; and (h) Determining the expected long-term dose rate by using the standard curve of the type shown in FIG. 11 prepared from the data in the prior art and prepared using the said prescribed short exposure period used in step e.