Minimization of radioactive material deposition in water-cooled nuclear reactors
First Claim
1. In the method for inhibiting the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor which comprises adding zinc ion to water entering said water-bearing vessel, the improvement in which said zinc ion contains a substantially lower proportion of the 64 Zn isotope than naturally occurring zinc.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In water-cooled nuclear reactors where zinc is added to the water to remove or lessen the accumulation of radioactive cobalt, radioactivity arising from the zinc itself as a result of neutron capture is lessened or eliminated entirely by modifying the isotopic composition of the zinc prior to its injection into the system. The modification of the isotopic composition consists of lowering the proportion of 64 Zn or removing this isotope entirely.
27 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. In the method for inhibiting the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor which comprises adding zinc ion to water entering said water-bearing vessel, the improvement in which said zinc ion contains a substantially lower proportion of the 64 Zn isotope than naturally occurring zinc.
-
9. A method for inhibiting the deposition of radioactive material in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding a water-based zinc oxide paste to water entering said water-bearing vessel, the zinc in said paste containing a substantially lower proportion of the 64 Zn isotope than naturally occurring zinc. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
12. A method for inhibiting the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding an aqueous solution of zinc oxide to water entering said water-bearing vessel, the zinc in said zinc oxide containing a substantially lower proportion of the 64 Zn isotope than naturally occurring zinc. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
16. A method for inhibiting the deposition of radioactive cobalt in a water-bearing vessel of a water-cooled nuclear reactor, said method comprising:
adding a slurry of zinc oxide in water to water entering said water-bearing vessel, the zinc in said zinc oxide containing a substantially lower proportion of the 64 Zn isotope than naturally occurring zinc. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification