Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Structural and radiological characterization of irradiated RBMK-1500 reactor graphite

  • Lagzdina, Elena (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Lingis, Danielius (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Plukis, Arturas (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Plukiene, Rita (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Germanas, Darius (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Garbaras, Andrius (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Garankin, Jevgenij (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Gudelis, Arunas (Department of Metrology, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Ignatjev, Ilja (Department of Organic Chemistry, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Niaura, Gediminas (Department of Organic Chemistry, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology) ;
  • Krutovcov, Sergej (State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant) ;
  • Remeikis, Vidmantas (Department of Nuclear Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology)
  • Received : 2020.12.24
  • Accepted : 2021.07.25
  • Published : 2022.01.25
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Abstract

This study aims to characterize the irradiated RBMK-1500 nuclear graphite in terms of both structural and radiological properties. The experimental results of morphological and structural analysis of the irradiated graphite samples by using SEM, Raman spectroscopy as well as the theoretical evaluation of primary displacement damage are presented. Moreover, the experimental and theoretical evaluation of the neutron flux is provided and the presence of several γ emitters in the analyzed graphite samples is assessed. Furthermore, the improved version of rapid analysis method for 14C activity determination is applied and the experimentally obtained results are compared with calculated ones. Results indicate that structural changes are uniform enough in all the analyzed samples. However, the distribution of radionuclides is non-homogeneous in the irradiated RBMK-1500 reactor graphite matrix. The comprehensive understanding of both structural and radiological characteristics of nuclear graphite is very important when dealing with decision about irradiated graphite waste management strategy or treatment options prior to its final disposal.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge Dr. Giedrius Stalnionis from Department of Characterization of Materials Structure (Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Lithuania), who helped us to obtain high quality SEM images of both irradiated and raw graphite samples.

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