Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Uncertainty and range of alternatives in estimating tritium emissions from proposed fusion power reactors and their radiological impact

  • Published:
Journal of Fusion Energy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A review of technology assessment studies as well as original research papers is presented in two diagrams with respect to estimating (1) the performance of fusion reactors in containing tritium, and (2) the radiological consequences of normal operational losses as well as accidental releases of tritium. Predictions are shown to vary over several orders of magnitude.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J. R. Bartlit and J. L. Anderson (1988). The Tritium Systems Test Assembly: Overview and Recent Results. 15th Symposium on Fusion Technology, Utrecht, Sept. 19–23, Report LA-UR-88-2796.

  2. J. R. Bartlit (1990). The Tritium Systems Test Assembly at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Fusion Engineering and Design 12, pp. 393–402.

    Google Scholar 

  3. H.-W. Bartels (1991). Comparison of predicted doses due to a continuous HTO release.Fusion Engineering and Design 17, 373–380.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (1990). Plan. Endlager für radioaktive Abfälle. Kurzfassung, Schachtanlage Konrad Salzgitter, Braunschweig.

  5. BIOMOVS II (1992). Biospheric Model Validation Study Phase II. Progress Report No. 3. December.

  6. R. M. Brown (1985). HT and HTO in the Environment at Chalk River.Fusion Technol. 8, 2539–2543.

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. B. Cannon (1983). Background Information and Technical Basis for Assessment of Environmental Implications of Magnetic Fusion Energy. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee.

    Google Scholar 

  8. R. V. Carlson (1993). Operational Experience and Tritium Safety at the Tritium Systems Test Assembly. This Proceedings.

  9. G. Casiniet al. (1985). Environmental Aspects of Fusion Reactors. Technical Note No.I.04.B1.85.156, Fusion Technology and Safety, Joint Research Center, Ispra.

    Google Scholar 

  10. T. B. Cochranet al. (1987).Nuclear Weapons Data Book. Vol. 2:U.S. Nuclear Warhead Production. Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  11. J. E. Draley and S. Greenberg (1974). Some Features of the Environmental Impact of a Fusion Reactor Power Plant. Proc. Symp. on Technology of Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion Experiments and the Engineering Aspects of Fusion Reactors, November 20–22, pp. 644–667.

  12. O. Edlund (1986). Normal Releases from Fusion Processes and Environmental Radiation Doses. Radiation Protection Dosimetry 16, 1–2, pp. 27–30.

    Google Scholar 

  13. L. Farges and D. Jacobs (1979). The Behaviour of Tritium in the Environment. Report on the international symposium held in San Francisco, October 16–20,Atomic Energy Review,17, (1), 213–217.

    Google Scholar 

  14. S. A. Fetter (1985). Radiological Hazards of Fusion Reactors: Models and Comparisons. PhD thesis, Univ. of California, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  15. D. J. German and K. Y. Wong (1979). Environmental Aspects of Tritium from CANDU Station Releases. In Ref. 20.

  16. W. Häfeleet al. (1977). Fusion and Fast Breeder Reactors. IIASA Report RR-77-8.

  17. T. Hayashi and K. Okuno (1993). Overview of Tritium Safety Technology at Tritium Process Laboratory of JAERI. This Proceedings.

  18. J. P. Holdrenet al. (1989). Report of the Senior Committee on Environmental, Safety, and Economic Aspects of Magnetic Fusion Energy. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, UCRL-53766, September 25.

  19. M. Huguetet al. (1992). Technical aspects of the first JET tritium experiment.Fusion Engineering and Design 19, 121–131.

    Google Scholar 

  20. IAEA (1979). Behaviour of Tritium in the Environment. Proc. Symp. San Francisco, October 16–20, 1978, IAEA-SM-232/49, Vienna, 1979.

  21. International Atomic Energy Agency (1987). Fusion Reactor Safety. IAEA-TECDOC-440, Vienna.

  22. M. B. Kalinowski (1992). Die Problematik der Tritiumemissionen aus einem Endlager für radioaktive Abfälle. Erörterungstermin für Schacht Konrad, Salzgitter, Oct. 16, 1992, IANUS-Working Paper 6.

  23. M. B. Kalinowski and A. Glaser (1993). Tritium Emissions from Proposed Fusion Power Reactors and Their Radiological Impact. Comparison of Results and Treatment of Uncertainty and Range of Alternative in Consequent Assessment Studies. IANUS-Working Paper 1/1993, July.

  24. M. B. Kalinowski (1994). The Treatment of Uncertainty and Range of Alternatives in Original Research Paper and Technology Assessment Studies. The Example of Tritium Emissions from Proposed Fusion Power Reactors and their Radiological Impact. Project Appraisal forthcoming.

  25. A. V. Kashirskij (1986). Fusion Reactor Radiation Impact on the Population. Proc. of the 4th Technical Committee Meeting and Workshop on Fusion Reactor Design and Technology, Yalta, USSR, Vol. 2, pp. 469–489.

    Google Scholar 

  26. T. F. Kempeet al. (1985). International Comparison of Computer Codes for Modeling the Dispersion and Transfer of Tritium Released to the Atmosphere. Fusion Technology8, 2575–81.

    Google Scholar 

  27. E. H. Kobisket al. (1989). Tritium-processing operations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with emphasis on safe-handling practices.Nucl. Inst. Methods A282, 329–340.

    Google Scholar 

  28. R. Lässer (1989). Tritium and Helium-3 in Metals. Berlinet al.

  29. T. E. McKone and W. E. Kastenberg (1978). Calculations of radiological dose due to release of tritium oxides from controlled thermonuclear reactors.Nucl. Technol. 40, 170–184.

    Google Scholar 

  30. A. A. Moghissi and M. W. Carter (eds.) (1973).Tritium. Phoenix/Las Vegas.

    Google Scholar 

  31. F. Morley and J. W. Kennedy (1969). Tritium Emissions from Fusion Reactors. Proc. BNES Conf. on Nuclear Fusion Reactors, Sept. 17–19, p. 54, London.

  32. D. S. Myers, J. F. Tinney, and P. H. Gudiksen (1973). Health Physics Aspects of a Large Accidental Release. In Ref. 29, pp. 611–622.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Office of Technology Assessment (1987). Starpower. The U.S. and the International Quest for Fusion Energy. Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  34. R. S. Peaseet al. (1989). Environmental, Safety-Related and Economic Potential of Fusion Power. Main Report by the EEF Study Group, Brussels, December.

  35. J. E. Phillips and C. E. Easterley (1980). Sources of Tritium. ORNI/TM-6402, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

  36. J. Raederet al. (1991). ITER safety. IAEA, ITER Documentation Series No. 36, Vienna.

  37. W. Raskob (1990). UFTORI: Program for Assessing the Off-Site Consequences from Accidental Tritium Releases Report KfK 4605, Karlsruhe.

  38. W. Raskob (1993). Dose Assessment for Atmospheric Releases of Tritium and Activation Products. This Proceedings.

  39. P. Rocco, G. Casini, and C. Ponti (1986). The Environmental Impact of Future Fusion Power Reactors. 14th Symp. on Fusion Technology, Avignon, Sept. 8–12, pp. 333–338.

  40. R. R. Stasko and K. Y. Wong (1986). Safety Issues Relating to the Design of Fusion Power Facilities. Proc. Canad. Nucl. Soc. 7th Annual Conf., pp. 225–231, Toronto.

  41. K. Sumita (1989). Tritium solid targets for intense D-T neutron production and the related problems.Nucl. Instr. Meth. A282, 345–353.

    Google Scholar 

  42. D. K. Szeet al. (1985). An assessment of problems associated with tritium containment.Fusion Technol. 8, 1985–1997.

    Google Scholar 

  43. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation (1977). Ionizing Radiation. Levels and Effects. Report of the General Assembly, New York.

  44. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (1988). Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation, United Nations.

  45. D. A. Wright (1981). Tritium Research Laboratory Safety Analysis Report. SAND81-8234, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ZIT/IANUS (Interdisziplinäre Arbeitsgruppe Naturwissenschaft Technik und Sicherheitspolitik), Inst, für Kernphysik, TH Darmstadt

    Martin B. Kalinowski

Authors
  1. Martin B. Kalinowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper is based on a more comprehensive study.23

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kalinowski, M.B. Uncertainty and range of alternatives in estimating tritium emissions from proposed fusion power reactors and their radiological impact. J Fusion Energ 12, 157–161 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059372

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01059372

Key words

Search

Navigation