NPP nuclear power reactors as [sup.14]C sources

• Published in: Atomic energy (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 121; no. 2; pp. 148 - 154
• Main Authors: Rublevskii, V.P, Yatsenko, V.N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 01-12-2016
• Subjects: Carbon cycle; Ionizing radiation; Nuclear energy; Nuclear reactors
• ISSN: 1063-4258; 1573-8205
• DOI: 10.1007/s10512-016-0175-y

Research has determined the actual [sup.14]C emissions from all types of reactors. The average emissions are (TBq/yr): VVER-440 (V-179, -230) 3.1 [+ or -] 1.5; VVER-440 (V-213) 13 [+ or -] 0.5; VVER-1000 2.0 [+ or -] 0.7; RBMK-1000 2.4 [+ or -] 1.6. The obtained data agree satisfactorily with the calculations, so that they can be used to predict the emissions from commissioned power reactors. The normalized [sup.14]C emissions from different types of foreign reactors, which approximately correspond to domestic reactors, are presented in UNSCEAR reports. The total atmospheric emissions of [sup.14]C by NPP reactors over the entire period of their operation (in 2015) equaled ~1.34 PBq. Over this same period about 54 PBq of native [sup.14]C entered the carbon cycle of the Earth's biosphere; this is almost 50 times greater than the surveyed NPP.