RADIOLYSIS OF WATER IN SEALED ALUMINUM CAPSULES -ITS PREDICTION AND INHIBITION

摘要

Measurements of the radiolysis of water were used to develop predictive models for the pressure rise in reactor experiments containing water with air as the cover gas and with cover gases of helium containing air impurities as well as mixtures of hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen impuri¬ties. The effectiveness of pure helium for inhibiting radiolysis was demonstrated by in-pile experiments. Oxides of nitrogen were identified as the key to radiolysis behavior. To prevent radiolysis, air or mixtures of nitrogen and oxygen must be excluded from the system.