Discussion on Radiation Protection for PWR Second-Loop Steam Supply Outside for Industrial Application

Abstract Nuclear power units have the ability to provide large-scale, stable industrial steam. With the rising prices of fossil fuels, nuclear energy has become economically competitive in supplying industrial steam. Laboratory measurements show that, under the condition of no leakage in the heat transfer tube of the steam generator, the concentration of radionuclides in the condensed water of the secondary loop steam is not different from that in the environmental water sample except for tritium. The IAEA technical report provides a two-cycle scheme of PWR supply steam for SAGD, which has the advantages of simple system, less process equipment, and high steam quality compared to the external steam supply scheme from the tertiary loop. Based on the drinking water standard, this article proposes to control the target value of radionuclide management for industrial application of secondary loop steam at 3.0 Bq/kg; Add a high-sensitivity radiation monitor on the steam generator blowdown line, and carry out technical renovation on the main steam pipeline N-16 radiation monitoring channel to provide timely, effective, and reliable monitoring of steam generator heat transfer tube leakage. It is interlocked with the control valve at the boundary of the external steam supply pipeline factory area to prevent radionuclides from passing through the steam supply pipeline factory area during operation and accident conditions.