THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER SUPPLY

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND SOCIAL CAPITAL

Makassar, Indonesia, July 16-17, 2012

Water Cooling System For The Installation Of Interim

Storage of Spentt Nuclear Fuel (IISSNF) And Its Operation Safety Aspect on Contamination ooff Radionuclides
Gunandjar 1, Zainus Salimin 1, Lucia Kwin Pujiastuti 1,
Sugeng Purnomo1, and Dwi Luhur Ibnu Saputra1
1

Radioactive Waste Technology Center

National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN)
Kawasan Puspiptek Serpong, Tangerang, Banten 1530 Indonesia
Phone 021-7563142, E-mail
mail : gunand-m@batan.go.id, zainus_s@batan.go.id, lucia_kp@batan.go.id,
lucia_kp@batan.go.id
purnomo_s@batan.go.id
purnomo_s@batan.go.id, Ibnu_s@batan.go.id

The Installation of Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel ( IISSNF) is a facility for temporary storage
of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) using water cooling system. The SNF is generated from the operation of the
Multipurpose Reactor of G.A.Siwabessy
A.Siwabessy (MPR
(MPR-G.A.S). The SNF contains radionuclides i.e. : remaining
uranium, fission product elements
elements, activated corrosion products, and transuranium. The SNF generates heat
and radiation decays
ecays of its radionuclide
radionuclides,, which is stored in temporary reactor pond for cooling of 100 days
or more. On that cooling, the SNF heat was decreased, the SNF was th
then
n transferred to the IISSNF passing
by transfer channel (TC) containing water for its keeping on the rack on floor position of pool. The IISSNF
has the pool construction containing water for cooling
cooling, and the
he pool water quality is demineralized water.
For maintaining of the water quality from radioactivity contamination, the continuous water purification is
performed by ion-exchange
exchange process using resin. The storage capacity of the IISSNF is 1448 elements ini
cluding control rod. The IISSNF has the ventilation and air conditioning system for maintaining of constant
air temperature of 20-25 oC and rela
relative humidity of 40-60%,
60%, room negative pressure of 100 + 25 Pa. At the
present, the IISSNF contains 208 of SNF elements and 37 control rod elements from MPR-G.A.S.
MPR
The
radioactivity contamination on the IISSNF is coming from the SNF and the transportation of irradiation
targets. The assessment of safety aspect for contamination of radionuclides has been performed by rar
dionuclides analysis of water samples of the TC and IISSNF facility, radionuclide analysis of the spent
ion-exchange resin from water purifi
purification unit, analysis of I131 in the ambient air, and surface contamicontam
nation of the facility . Based on the assessment and analysis of the contamination level in the water cooling
system can be concluded that the safety aspect of the TC-ISSNF facility operation is in very good condition
and safe in accordance with applicable safety standards.
Key Words : interim
m storage of spent nuclear fuel, radionuclide contamination, spent
pent nuclear fuel.
fuel

1. INTRODUCTION
On the operation of the Multipurpose Reactor of

G.A. Siwabessy (MPR-G.A.S),

G.A.S), the nuclear fuel is
unloaded from the reactor if its economical life has
been reached, and then become spent nuclear fuel

4th International
ional Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012,, ISBN: 978
978-602-203-124-6

74

(SNF). The SNF contains radionuclides (radioactive

elements) i.e. : remaining uranium (U), transuranium
(TRU), and radionuclides of fission products, as well
as the others activated products. The SNF generates
heat and radiation decays of its radionuclides, which
is stored in temporary reactor pond for cooling of 100
days or more. On that cooling, the SNF heat was
decreased from 47,590 377.2 W per element of
SNF 1,2). The SNF was then transferred to the Installation of Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
(IISSNF) passing by transfer channel (TC) containing water for its keeping on the rack on floor position
of pool. The TC is also utilized for transferring of
irradiation targets from MPR-GAS to the Installation
of
Radioisotope Production (IRP), and transferring of SNF from MPR-GAS to the IIS-SNF and
from Installation of Radiometallurgy (IRM) to the
IISSNF. The IISSNF has the pool construction containing water for cooling, radiation protection, and
radionuclides containment of the SNF for avoiding
its release to the working area. The pool water quality
is demineralized water. For maintaining of the water
quality from contamination of radionuclides, the
continuous water purification is performed by
ion-exchange process using resin.
Based on design of the MPR-G.A.S normal
operation , there are 8 replacement of SNF per cycles
and 7 cycles per years. Therefore, The storage
capacity of IISSNF is 1448 elements including control rod, the IISSNF can be utilized for storage of
SNF generated from 25 years MPR-G.A.S operation
and one last core unloading. The heats generated at
that capacity is 35 kW, and heats from lighting
system and that others is 5 kW. Water cooling system of the IISSNF was designed for that heat removing by circulation of 6 m3/hour water pool to the
cooling system for maintaining of constant water
temperature of 35oC. The IISSNF has the ventilation
and air conditioning system (VAC OFF GAS) for
maintaining of constant air temperature of 20-25 oC
and relative humidity of 40-60%, room negative
pressure of 100 + 25 Pa, radiation exposure of 2-5
mrem /hour, by air renewal of 5 times per hour 1,2,3).
Since start MPR-G.A.S operation on the year
of 1987 until last year of 2011, the quantity of SNF
has been obtained 443 elements. According to the
policy that all of SNF containing uranium from
United State of America (USA) has to be sent back to
the origin country, therefore up to 30 July 2009, it
was sent back (has been reexported) of 198 SNF
elements to USA 4).
At the present, the IISSNF contains 245 elements
consists of 208 SNF elements and 37 control rod
elements, and the TC was utilized for transferring
243 elements of SNF from MPR-G.A.S to the
IISSNF, 231 irradiation targets from MPR-G.A.S to

the IPR, and 2 elements of SNF from IRM to the

IISSNF 4). The heats, contamination of radionuclides,
and radiation on the IISSNF are coming from the
SNF and the transportation of irradiation targets.
At the present, on the normal operation of
MPR-G.A.S there are only 6 replacement of SNF per
cycles and 4 cycles per year. In the condition of 1448
SNF elements capacity of IISSNF, the IISSNF can
be utilized for 60 years MPR-G.A.S operation. Considering the long period operation of IISSNF in
which the population in the location will be increased,
so the operation of IISSNF must be not on the condition of any problems excited. The safety aspects of
IISSNS operation must be assessed to assure the long
period of its safe operation. On the analysis of operation safety aspects of the IISSNF, the qualitative
and quantitative assessments of heats, contamination
of radionuclides and radiation will be performed.
In this paper will be presented the assessment of
operation safety aspect on contamination of radionuclides in the water cooling system of the IISSNF
including its working area surroundings and worker.
The assessment will be performed by analysis of
radionuclide contained in the samples i.e. : water
samples from water cooling syatem of the TC and
IISSNF facility, ambient air samples (containing the
gases of radionuclides such as I131, Kr85, and Xe133),
the spent ion-exchange resin samples (from water
purification plant), and samples from surfase area
contaminated of radionuclides. Monitoring on safety
of workers was performed regularly. The analysis
results releted to the contamination of radionuclides
in the facility can be utilized for the evaluation of the
operation performance of the IISSNF according to
the existing regulation, and for technical action plan
for optimization of the IISSNF operation.

2.THEORY
(1) The TC and IISSNF facility
The SNF generates heat and radiation decays of
its radionuclide, which is stored in temporary reactor
pond for cooling of 100 days or more. The SNF was
then transferred to the Installation of Interim Storage
of Spent Nuclear Fuel (IISSNF) passing by transfer
channel (TC) containing water for its keeping on the
rack on floor position of pool. The main objective of
SNF management is that the SNF can be stored
safely, economics, and conforming to the safety
standard regulation to ensure the public safety and
the environment until the SNF are transferred to repository for final storage or to reprocessing facility to
recovery of uranium and plutonium (Pu) 5,6,7).
There are two systems in the interim storage of
SNF, namely wet and dry storage systems. The wet
storage system is storage in water pond that it can

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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directly received the SNF which just unloaded from

nuclear reactor which still has high heats. The facilities for the both of storage systems must have
main functions are as follows 8,9,10) :
a) To remove the heats from SNF (as cooling of
SNF),
b) As radiation shielding to protect the radiation
and to maintain the limit of permitted radiation
level at the working area,
c) As containment of the radioactive elements for
avoiding its release to the working area.
The heats removal is utilized the cooling medium
such as water or air. The shielding of radiation can be
obtained successfully in SNF storage pool on the
water deep enough, or in the close facility with
shielding equipment using lead (Pb) material.
The IISSNF is the wet storage system using
water cooling system, the SNF from the MPR-G.A.S
is transferred to the IISSNF passing by transfer
channel (TC) containing water for its keeping on the
rack on floor position of pool. The TC is also utilized
for transferring of irradiated targets from the
MPR-G.A.S to the Installation of Radioisotope
Production (IRP), transferring of SNF from the
MPR-G.A.S to the IISSNF, and transferring
irradiated fuel targets from the MPR-G.A.S to Installation of Radiometallurgy (IRM), as well as
transferring the irradiated fuel targets from IRM to
the IISSNF. The site layout of these installations (the
TC and IISSNF facility) are shown in the Figure 1.
Containment and confinement of the radionuclides (radioactive elements) is accomplished by
SNF storage in water or in close shell with shielding
equipment or in container to avoid the release of
radionuclides if occur accident condition. The accident condition can be caused by damage of the SNF
cladding. There are three main reason caused the
damage of cladding, namely : physical damage at the
time of transferring, the damage caused by chemicals,
and the damage caused by the temperature too high
7,8,9)
.

Figure 1. Site layout of the TC and IISSNF facility.

Material of cladding utilized in fabrication of

MTR (Material Testing Reactor) nuclear fuel
standard are Al-Mg and Al-Mg-Si alloys. These
materials have neutron absorption cross section very
low, very resistance to radiation, chemical and
mechanic collision 2,3). These alloys have the critical
temperature 193 o C and melting point 650 o C. On
temperature 100 o C, these alloy can be oxydized to
form protective coating (protector layer). The protective coating will disappeared at temperature about
150 o C. Disappearing of the protective coating cause
decreasing of the resistance quality of
radioactive
elements (radionuclides) in the SNF 5).
In the wet storage system of SNF is carried out
controlling of the purity and temperature of the water
(coolant), chemical and physical effects to the
cladding of nuclear fuel. The temperature at external
cladding must be maintained lower than 100 o C by
storage in water. The system generally is designed
for normal operation at temperature lower than 40 o C,
and abnormal operation at temperature 67 o C, so that
the damage of cladding caused by temperature effect
can be eliminated, and containment of radioactive
materials in the SNF can be guaranteed 5).
The IISSNF facility containing several racks for
placement of spent nuclear fuel is shown in Figure 2.
Dimensions of the ISSNF facility is length x width x
depth : 14 m x 5 m x (-6.5 m), and the amount of
cooling water in the IISSNF facility is 455 m3. The
maximum capacity of the IISSNF is 1448 SNF
elements. The installation can accommodate SNF for
25 years of operation of RSG-G.A.S plus one core
unload where there is a 7 cycles per year of the NF
replacement with the amount of fuel that replaced
are 8 SNF per cycles. But at the present, on the
normal operation of MPR-G.A.S there are only 6
replacement of SNF per cycles and 4 cycles per year,
so on the condition of 1448 SNF elements capacity,
the IISSNF can be utilized for 60 years MPR-G.A.S
operation.

Figure 2. The Installation of Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear

Fuel (IISSNF) containing several racks for placement of spent
nuclear fuels.

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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11)

The IISNF was designed and equipped with

ventilation of air conditioning (VAC) system which
has a function to 1) :
a) Renewal of the air in surrounding of the spent
fuel storage pool with fresh water replacement
5 times per hour.
b) Maintain the room temperature 20-25 o C.
c) Maintain the room relative humidity of air
40-60%.
d) Maintain a negative pressure of room (100 25
Pa).
In normal conditions, the VAC system in
operation and the pool water is maintained at a
constant temperature of 35 C through by cooling.
Water with a temperature of 35 C was circulated
with 6 m3/hour flow rate into the cooling system so
that the temperature to 28 C and then returned to the
pool. As the cooling water, it is used with the initial
temperature of 17 C and final temperature of 23 C,
cooling water is cooled by cold water from the
chiller.
(2) Contamination of radionuclide in the TC and
IISSNF facility
In the normal operation, contamination of radionuclides (radioactivity) will occur into the water
cooling system of TC and IISSNF according to the
limit of permitted highest content (LPHC). The
analysis of radionuclides in the spent ion-exchange
resin (generated from water purification unit) will
shows the presence of the contamination in the water
cooling system before purification process. Whereas,
the analysis of radionuclide contamination on the
ambient air by direct measurement on the filter
located on the VAC OFF GAS system using detector
will also shows contamination in the ambient air of
the TC and IISSNF facility. The contamination of
radionuclides consists of three types of contaminants
are : radionuclide of fission products, radionuclide of
activated corrosion products, and radionuclide of
actinides (uranium and transuranium). Contamination of uranium and transuranium (TRU) into water
can occur when the fuel cladding is damaged (broken
or cracked) so that leaks and release into the water
cooling system.
(3) Radionuclide of fission products
Radionuclides (radioactive elements) from
fission products consists of all radionuclide
produced from fission reaction (primary fission
products) and
radionuclide from neutron capture
by radionuclide of fission products (secondary
fission products). The fission reaction of nuclear fuel
containing U235 according to the equation as follows

:
235
U
+ 0n 1
92

A1
A2
Z1L + Z2H +

x 0n1 +E .. (1)

where Z = atomic number, A = mass number, L and

H are light and heavy nuclides of fission products
respectively. The light nuclides have mass number
between 72 to 118 and heavy nuclides have mass
number between 118 to 162, x = quantity of neutron
produced from the fission reaction. In this equation,
Z1 + Z2 = 92 and A1 + A2 + x = 236. The average
heats generated from this fission reaction, E = 200
MeV. The heats produced from fission for 1 g of U235
equal with heat produced from 1 ton of coal.
The example of the primary fission reaction are as
follows 12) :
235
92U

+ 0n 1

38Sr

90

235
92U

+ 0n 1

37Rb

+ 54Xe143 + 3 0n1 ......... (2)

96

55Cs

137

+ 3 0n1 ........ (3)

Radionuclide of Sr90 and Cs137 are the main fision

product elements. There are about 200 fission
product elements having atomic number between 30
to 65 with mass number between 72 to 166. There
are 16 main fission products with high yield are
given in Table 1.
Table 1. The main fission products and its half life (T1/2) with
high yield (>1 %) 12).

Fission
product
99
Tc
137
Cs
90
Sr/90Y
85
Kr
147
Pm
144
Ce
95
Zr/95Nb
91
Y
89
Sr
103
Ru
141
Ce
143
Pr
140
Ba
147
Nd
131
I
133
Xe

Half life
2.1x105 years
30.17 years
28 years / 64 hours
10 years
2.65 years
282 days
65/35 days
61 days
53.0 days
39.8 days
33.1 days
13.7 days
12.8 days
11.3 days
8.1 days
5.3 days

Yield
(%)
6.0
6.2
5.8
1.5
2.7
6.1
6.4
5.4
4.8
3.0
6.0
6.2
6.3
2.6
2.9
6.5

In Table 1, 90Sr/90Y and 95Zr/95Nb are in equilibrium

of parent and daughter radionuclides. The fission
product elements contained in the SNF, in normal
operation of IISSNF only Cs137, Sr90, I131, Kr85, and
Xe133 can be released into the water of reactor pond
through diffusion process and penetrate the cladding

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

77

of SNF. If in the water containing the others contaminant of fission products, this shows that have
occur indication of SNF damage. The illustration of
composition of fresh nuclear fuel and spent nuclear
fuel utilizing in Nuclear Power Plant are shown in
Table 2.
Table 2. The composition of fresh nuclear fuel and spent nuclear
fuel utilizing in Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) [12].

Nuclides

U238
U235
TRU
Fission
ucts

Prod-

Fresh nuclear
fuel
(% weight)

Spent nuclear
fuel
(% weight)

95.5 %
4.5 %
-

93 %
1%
1%
5%

In Table 2 shows that the content of remaining

uranium in spent nuclear fuel still high with addition
of high activity from fission products and
transuranium (TRU). The TRU consist of Pu (>
0.9 %) and the others TRU (Np, Am, and Cm) is
lower than 0.1 %. Whereas the composition and
specification for fresh nuclear fuel utilizing in the
MPR-G.A.S, i.e. : type of nuclear fuel is U3O8Al or
U3Si2 (MTR) with enrichment 19.75 % U235 (and
80,25 % U238), and cladding material is AlMg alloy.
In the burn up of 60 %, so the SNF contains about
78 % U238, 8 % U235 and the others are Pu,
transuranium (TRU) and fission products.
(4) Radionuclide of activated corrosion products
The radionuclides of radioactive elements can be
produced from activation reaction with neutron
capture by elements contained in the cladding of
nuclear fuel. There are two metal alloys utilized for
cladding material of MTR type namely Al-Mg and
Al-Mg-Si. Activation reactions by main elements
contained in the cladding material are as follows 12) :
27

+ 0n 1

11Na

27

+ 0n 1

27
1
12Mg + 1p

13Al
13Al

24

+ 24 .............. (4)

26
1
12Mg + 0n

27
12Mg +

24
1
12Mg + 0n

11Na

14Si

30

+ 0n 1

14Si

24

31

.............. (5)

................ (6)

+ 1p1 .................. (7)

+ ............. (8)

Radionuclides produced from activation

reactions by elements contained in the cladding of

nuclear fuel showed at equation (4) to (8) are Na24,

Mg27, and Si31. In the cladding material also contain
low quantity of some metals such as Mn, Co, Fe, and
Zn. These metals can produce the radionuclides from
activated corrosion products, namely Mn54, Co60,
Fe59, and Zn65 respectively. If the cladding occur
corrosion, so these radionuclides will contaminate
into water that exist in the reactor pond of
MPR-G.A.S, and it can also contaminate in the water
cooling system of the IISSNF through TC. Activation process can be also occurred after corrosion
process.
(5) Uranium and TRU elements
The radionuclides of uranium and TRU
elements are included actinide element group.
Uranium in SNF consist of U238 (major element) and
U235 (Table 2). Whereas radionuclides of TRU are
produced from activation of neutron capture by
uranium in nuclear fuel and followed by activation
from TRU its self. The main TRU elements are Pu,
Np, Am, and Cm. In general the radionuclide of TRU
are long life alpha () emitter as are shown in Table
3. In actually, there is radionuclide of Np239 but has
very short half life (2.35 days with emitter), so that
decay very fast to become Pu239 having long half life
alpha emitter (Table 3).
Table 3. TRU radionuclides, half life (T1/2), and its emission in
spent nuclear fuel [12,13].

Nuclide
Pu238
Pu239
Pu240
Pu241
Pu242
Pu244
Np237
Np238
Am241
Am242
Am243
Cm242
Cm244

Half life
87.7 years
2.41x104
years
6.56x103
years
14.35 years
3.75x105
years
2.4x107 years
2.1x106 years
2.1 days
432 years
141 years
737 years
162.8 days
18.1 years

Emission
,U
,
, U
,
,
,

,
,

(6) Radionuclide in irradiated target

Production of radioisotopes are carried-out by
irradiation of target in MPR-G.A.S. The radioisotopes produced are utilized in several field such as in
nuclear medicine (e.g. Mo99/Tc99m, I131), industry
(Ir191, Co60, Sr90), agriculture (S35, P32, N15), and Hydrology (Co60, Cs137, H3), etc. Several targets, product of radioisotopes and its form of chemical prod-

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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ucts are shown at Table 4. Target irradiations are

carried-out in the MPR-G.A.S, then the result of
irradiated targets are sent to Installation of Radioisotope Production (IRP) passing transfer channel
(TC).
Nuclear reaction occured in production of radioisotope through target irradiation in MPR-G.A.S are
fission reaction or neutron activation. The example
of fission reaction is Mo99 production produced from
uranium oxyde target (enriched U235), its fission
reaction is follows 14) :
235
92U

+ 0n 1

42Mo

Whereas Tc
Mo99

99m

99

+ 50Sn136 +2 0n1 +200 MeV

(9)
99

is produced from decaying of Mo :

99m

Tc+-10

.............. (10)

The example of radioisotope production by neutron

activation is I131 radioisotope produced from tellurium oxyde (TeO2) target, its activation reaction
continued by -decaying as follows :
52Te
52Te

130

+ 0n 1

131

52Te
131
53I

131

Sulfur
KCl
Cr metal (Cr50)
Fe2O3 (Fe58)
SrCO3 (Sr84)
HgO
Sn metal
(Sn112)
Yb2O3 (Yb168)
CaCO3 (Ca44)
Fe2O3 (Fe54)
Sn metal
(Sn118)

Cr51
Fe59
Sr85
Hg203
Sn113
Yb169
Ca45
Mn54
Sn119m

Na2CrO4 &
CrCl3
FeCl3
Sr(NO3)2
Hg(NO3)2
SnCl2 & SnCl4
YbCl3
CaCl2
MnCl2
SnCl2

Assessment on the operation safety aspect of the

ISSNF facility related to the contamination of radionuclides necessary to be performed by analysis of
radionuclides containing in water cooling system of
the TC and ISSNF Facility, spent ion-exchange resin
(from water purification unit), the ambient air
samples, and analysis of surface contamination. This
assessment is very important to evaluation and
optimization of the TC and IISSNF facility
operation.

+ .......................(11)

+ -10 ......................... (12)

The irradiated targets in the container is then

transferred from the MPR-G.A.S to RPI through TC.
The condition of container is closed tightly to avoid
the contamination of radionuclide (from irradiated
target) into water cooling system in TC. When in the
water cooling system contains the contaminant of
radionuclide, it indicates the presence of
contamination caused by the damage of container
(broken or cracked) so that the radionuclide release
into water cooling system of TC.
Table 4. Products of radioisotopes from the targets
in MPR-G.A.S 14).

Targets

Product of
radioisotopes

U235 ( 93.15 %)
U235 (93.15 %)
U235 ( 93.15 %)
Ir191 ( wafer/disc)
Ir191 ( wafer/disc)
Zn metal
Tl metal (Tl203)
MoO3
TeO2
Xenon (Xe124)

Mo99
I131
Xe133
Ir192
192
Ir bulk
Ga67
Tl201
Mo99
I131
I125
P32
S35

irradiated

Form of
chemical
products
Na2MoO4
NaI
Xenon gas
Ir
Ir
GaCl3
TlCl
Na2MoO4
NaI
NaI
H3PO4
H2SO4

3.METHODS
(1) Materials and equipment
The materials utilized consists of : a) standard
radioisotope materials (standard sources) as follows:
Cd109, Fe59, Co60, and Am241. b) the sample material
by sampling in the TC and ISSNF facility namely :
pool water, spent ion-exchange resin, air filter, and
filter paper of wipe test. c) Whatman filter paper,
liquid nitrogen, and chemicals such as nitric acid and
hydrochloric acid.
The equipments utilized are as follows:
a) Gamma Spectrometer with High pure Germanium (Hp-Ge) Detector.
b) Detector of NaI (Tl) for detection of iodine (I131)
c) Survey meter FAG-40 FZ.
d) Sampling equipment for cooling water.
e) Intelligence of
Continuous Air Monitor
(I-CAM) for air ambient activity monitor.
f) Detector for temperature (Thermometer).
g) Detector for water conductivity.
h) Centrifuge, column adsorption, pH meter, digital
balance, and laboratory glassware equipments.
(2) Work procedures
Assessment on operation safety aspect of the TC
and ISSNF Facility concerning the contamination of
radionuclides were carried-out by radioactivity
analysis of water samples from TC and pool of
ISSNF, analysis of spent ion-exchange resin (from

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

79

purification unit), analysis of iodine (I131) and the

others gas radionuclides (Kr85, Xe133) contained in
ambient air. All of sampling was carried out regularly
once a week. The steps of data collection, analysis
and assessment are as follows:
a) Analysis of radionuclide contained in the water
samples and spent ion-exchange resin samples :
Taking of water samples at the TC and ISSNF
pool, and samples of the spent ion-exchange resin from purification unit using a sampling tool.
The analysis of radionuclide in these samples
using Gamma Spectrometer with Hp-Ge detector.
b) Analysis of the contamination of radionuclides in
ambient air :
The contamination of gas radionuclides (I131,
Kr85, and Xe135) in air was analyzed by direct
measurements of the activity at the site of VAC
OFF GAS. Sampling of air in pool of the IISSNF
and measurements (counting) of the activity of
ambient air using I-CAM, the measurement of
contamination at inlet of the air filter on the Air
Channel System (ACS) using detector of NAI
(Tl), and measurement of contamination at the
outlet air stack (OAS), sampling of OAS using a
filter and its activity counting using alpha-beta
counter.
c) Analysis of the surface contamination activities
in the TC and IISSNF facility :
The analysis of surface contamination activities
consist of measurement of surface activities at
several locations (room or area) in the TC and
IISSNF facility. The measurement of surface
contamination are carried-out using filter paper
of wipe test and its acivity counting using
alpha-beta counter.
d) Monitoring for safety of working area and
worker on contamination of radionuclides performed by measurement of radiation exposure
in working area and radiation dose received by
workers in the TC and IISSNF facility.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The assessment of operation safety aspect on
contamination of radionuclides in the water cooling
system of IISSNF including its working area
surroundings is based on analysis results of radionuclides in the water cooling system, spent
ion-exchange resin, ambient air, and surface contamination (in area/room) of the TC and IISSNF
facility.

(1) Analysis of radionuclides contained in the

water and spent ion-exchange resin samples
The analysis results of radionuclides activity in
Bq/L (becquerel/litre) contained in water samples
from pool of IISSNF, TC and OPU (outlet of purification unit) using Gamma Spectrometer with
Hp-Ge detector (sampling on February to April
2012) are shown in Table 5.
Table 5. Maximum activity of radionuclides in water
samples from the TC and IISSNF facility
(sampling on February to April 2012)

Sampling
times and
water
samples
Feb. 2012
Pool
TC
OPU
March
2012
Pool
TC
OPU
April
2012
Pool
TC
OPU

Maximum activity of radionuclides

(Bq/L) :
Cs137

Sb12

Ru103

Nd147

Y91

14.8
none

none
none

814.2
none

none
none

none

none

none

none
1188
4
none

none
none
none

none
444
none

none
459
none

none
none
none

none
none
none

37
14.8
326

903
none
533

3101
none
none

none
none
none

none
2398
none

none

none = no detected or lower than background activity

In Table 5 shows the presence of radionuclide

contamination generated from the release of main
fission product radionuclide Cs137, Sb124, Ru103,
Nd147, and Y91. These radionuclides are included the
main fission product elements having yield more
than 1 % (see Table 3). In this water of the TC and
ISSNF facility are not detected the presence of the
fission product radionuclide such as I131, Kr85, and
Xe133, these radionuclide are main fission products
in gas phases so they can released to ambient air.
Whereas contamination of radionuclides generated
from the activated corrosion product of elements
such as Fe59, Co60, Mn54 are also not detected.
Radionuclide of Cs137 is fission product element
having long half life ( T1/2 = 30.17 years) and high
abundance, its decaying to produce radionuclide of
Ba137. Almost 85 % is decay to produce Ba137m
together with photon emission of 662 keV.
Radionuclide of Ba137 also emit X-ray and convertion

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Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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electron. Solubility of Cs137 in water is high, so Cs137

easily to be transferred into the cycle of water
cooling system. In high temperature, Cs137 is volatile
radionuclide and it can caused inhalation danger to
radiation workers. The Cs137 is strong gamma emitter
so that very easy to be analized using Gamma
Spectrometry.
The radionuclide of Cs137 and Sr90 are the most
important of fission products having high activities
and high yields, and also they have long half life
(30.17 years and 28.8 years respectively), so they are
main contributor contained in radioactive waste
generated from SNF. In Table 5, the radionuclide of
Sr90 is not shown because this radionuclide is pure
beta-emitter so that it can not be detected using
Gamma Spectrometer.
Radionuclide of Sr90 is fission product element
with pure -emitter (Emax= 546 keV) having high
abundance and very potency to give high contribution in contamination inventory. Decaying of Sr90 to
produce the equilibrium with its daughter of Y90 (T1/2
= 64.1 hours, pure -emitter with Emax= 2.27 MeV ).
Based on the decaying Sr90/Y90 with high energy,
so that dosimetry monitoring and doses control can
be performed by -detector of Geiger Muller
Counter. The analysis of Sr90 is needed the radiochemical treatment and its analysis using
-spectrometer, but Sr90 also can be determined by
scaling factor method using Cs137 as radionuclide
standard.
The comparing between the maximum activity in
Bq/L (becquerel/litre) of radionuclide (Table 5) with
the Limit of Permitted Highest Content (LPHC)[15] is
shown in Table 6. The maximum activity of Sr90 was
calculated based on scaling factor of Cs137.
Table 6. Maximum activity of radionuclide in water
samples of the TC-ISSNF facility comparing
with LPHC in the environment water 15).
(sampling on February to April 2012)

Radio nuclide
(half life)
Cs137
(30,17y)
Sb124(60.3d)
103

Ru (39.35d
)
Nd147(11.3d)
91

Y (61 d)
90

Sr

*(28.8y)

Max. concentration in
water (Bq/L)
TC
Pool
OPU

LPHC
(Bq/L
)

14.8

37.0

325.6

7x10

444

903

533

7x10

459

3101

none

4x10

1188
4
2398

none

none

1x10

none

none

1x10

14.1

35.3

310.8

7x10

none = no detected or lower than background

activity.
* Calculation based on scaling factor of Cs137.

In Table 6, during the period from February to

April 2012 (12 times the measurements) the activity
of Cs137 and Sr90 in water samples (TC, pool of
ISSNF, and out let of purification unit) were lower
than LPHC. Whereas the activities of Y91, Ru103,
Nd147 and Sb124 during that period were obtained their
activities only one time (from the measurements of
12 times) higher than LPHC respectively, and the
others measurements were obtained none or lower
than LPHC
In the high temperature, Cs137 and Sr90 are volatile
isotopes and relatively easy to diffuse and it can penetrate the cladding of nuclear fuel, so that both of
the isotopes can release into the primary cooling
water of reactor as contaminant and moving up to the
water cooling system of TC and IISSNF. Their
diffusion can also occur at the time SNF has been in
the IISSNF. In Table 5, during the period of February to April 2012 from 12 times measurements
(every once a week), showed that only the presence
of Cs137 found in the pool of IISSNF, and only one
time during the second week with the activity of 14.8
Bq/L is much lower than LPHC in the environment
water, namely its value LPHC = 7x102 Bq/L 15), then
the next 4 weeks indicated no presence of Cs137.
Whereas in the water of TC, there are no Cs137.
The others main fission products are Ru103, Nd147,
124
Sb , and Y91. They have half life very short. Their
activities some time higher than LPHC and some
time lower than LPHC even are none ( no detected or
lower than background activity). The fission product
of Ru103 (T1/2 = 39.8 days) having its behavior as
temCs137 and Sr90. Ru103 is also volatile at high
perature (easily changed into the gas phase) and easily defuse to exit from cladding of nuclear fuel and
become contaminants in the primary cooling water of
MPR-G.A.S. In Table 5, during period from February to April it was found the presence of Ru103 two
times in the pool of IISSNF with the activity of 814.2
Bq/L and 3101 Bq/L (higher than LPHC = 4x102
Bq/L) and only one time detectacle in water of TC
with activity 459 Bq/L (higher than LPHC), but
because Ru103 is short life so this radionuclide decays
rapidly and its activities soon decrease.
Whereas Nd147 (T1/2 = 11.3 days) and Y91 (T1/2 =
61 days) are only once presence in water of TC with
activity of 11884 Bq/L and 2398 Bq/L respectively.
The both of activities of radionuclide in water of TC
higher than LPHC, but in the pool of the IISSNF on
the same day the both of radionuclide have not been
found (not detected), because their half life are very

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Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

81

short and have been diluted, and also may be that the
both radionuclide are generated from irradiated
targets transferred to IRP or IRM.
Based on Table 5 indicate that there are
contamination of Cs137, Ru103, Y91, Nd147, and Sb124
in water cooling system of the TC and IISNF facility,
but with existing the purification unit using the ionexchange resin so that often their activities does not
appear. This phenomena is caused by purification
unit is not operated continuously but periodically for
savings and optimization of its use.
The analysis results of radionuclide contained in
waste of spent ion exchange resin utilizing in purification unit of primary cooling water in MPR-G.A.S
are shown in Table 7.
Table 7. Analysis results of radionuclide contained in waste of
spent ion-exchange resin utilized
in purification unit of primary cooling
water in the MPR-G.A.S.

Waste of
spent resin
Tank-I
Tank-II

Tank-III

Tank-IV

The content of
radionuclides
Cs137, Ce144,
Zn65, Co60, Mn54
Cs137, Ce144,
Zn65,
Co60, Mn54
Cs137, Ce144,
Zn65,
Co60, Mn54
Cs137, Ce144,
Zn65,
Co60, Mn54

Total activity
(Bq/L)
8.07x106
6.99x106

can be carried-out regularly and it is not continuous

for saving or optimization of its use.
(2) Analysis of the contamination of radio- nuclides in ambient air
The analysis of contamination of radionuclides
in ambient air was carried out by direct measurement
at the location of the VAC OFF GAS. Sampling of
air in pool of the IISSNF and measurements (counting) of the activity of ambient air using I-CAM, the
measurement of contamination at inlet of the air filter
on the Air Channel System (ACS) by detector of NAI
(Tl), and measurement of contamination at the outlet
air stack (OAS), sampling in OAS using a filter and
its activity counting using
alpha-beta counter.
The analysis results of air contamination (in Bq/m3)
are shown in Table 8.
Table 8. The analysis results of air contamination in the
TC-ISSNF facility from February to April 2012.

Period of
sampling

Feb.2012

5.99x105

9.73x10

In Table 7 shows that the waste of spent

ion-exchange resin in all of tanks containing the
same radionuclide namely Cs137, Ce144, Zn65, Co60,
and Mn54. In this case, there was only the fission
product of Cs137 and Ce144, but Sr90 was not detected
by Gamma Spectrometer because it is pure beta
emitter. Whereas the others fission product radionuclides such as Nd147, Y91, Sb144, and Ru103 were not
detected because they are have short life while the
resin wastes have been stored long enough, they are
not shown as at Table 5 mentioned above. The
presence of radionuclide from the activated corrosion
products namely Zn65, Co60, and Mn54 shows that the
corrosion process occur at the time of reactor operation and it only contaminate in the primary cooling
water, then they are accumulated in the ion exchange
resin of the purification unit in the MPR-G.A.S.
The contamination of fission products in water
cooling system of the TC and ISSNF Facility can be
removed by the purification process. The
contamination level of radionuclides are still
relatively low, the operation of the purification unit

Area
or
room
Pool
ACS
OAS

March 2012 Pool

ACS
OAS
April
2012

Pool
ACS
OAS

Air contamination
(Bq/m3)

/
0.0109
0.723
none
5.158
none
none
0.0106
none
0.0052

0.761
4.6891
0.0898

0.0110
none
none

0.7800
5.8613
0.0058

none = no detected or lower than background activity.

In Table 8 shows that in the period of February

to April 2012, the level of contamination can be seen
more real the estimated the I131 on inlet of air filter on
ACS that gives activity of gross / (beta/gamma)
between 4.689 to 5.861 Bq/cm3 which indicates the
presence of accumulative contamination of I131 (fission product with T1/2 = 8,1 days , yield = 2.9 % )
from ambient air. Whereas the others of fission
product gases such as Kr85(), and Xe133() are not
adsorbed by the air filter of ACS.
The measurement of the air contamination level
by taking samples (sampling) in pool of IISSNF and
in outlet air stack (OAS) were relatively low namely
the value of gross alpha () between 0,0106 to 0,0110
Bq/cm3 and gross / between 0,723 to 0,780 Bq /
cm3, whereas at the outlet air stack was obtained the

4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

82

gross of alpha with value between none to 0,0052 Bq

/cm3 and gross of beta/gamma between 0,0058 to
0,0898 Bq / cm3.The gross of / activity is estimated
from I131 ( ,). It showed the presence of contamination of I131, Kr85, and Xe133 in ambient air in the
TC and IISSNF facility although it is still very low.
Based on The LPHC in air are [7] : Alpha () =
0,74 Bq/cm3 and Beta/gamma (/) = 7,4 Bq/cm3, so
the air contamination in the TC and IISSNF facility
is lower than the LPHC. Then based on Decree of
Chairman of BAPETEN No : 02/KA-BAPETEN/
V/1999 concerning The Standard of Radioactivity
Level in Environment, the LPHC in air for I131 is
1x10-2 Bq/L or 10 Bq/m3 15), therefore the air
contamination from I131, Kr85, and Xe133 in ambient
air of the TC and IISSNF facility is also lower than
the LPHC, so that the safety aspect of TC and
IISSNF operation in good condition and conform to
the standard operation.
The level of gases contamination of I131, Kr85,
and Xe133 in ambient air is still in very low level, so
the ambient air will be flowed into the filter unit of
ACS automatically when there are indications of
contamination of these radionuclide which is
marked by the increasing of the air activity on the air
activity monitor in the ACS.
(3) Analysis of the surface contamination in the
TC and IISSNF facility
The analysis of surface contamination activities
in the TC and IISSNF facility consist of
measurement of surface activities at several locations
(room or area) are as follows : lobby, the main
control room (MCR), dress exchange room (DER),
pool area (Pool-I = Right side of Pool Area , Pool-II
= Left side of Pool Area, Pool-III = Front side of Pool
Area), TC Area (TC-I = TC of IISSNF Area, TC-II
= TC of the MPR-G.A.S Area, TC-III= TC of the
IRP/IRM Area), and purification unit room (PUR).
The measurement of surface contamination were
carried-out using filter paper of wipe test and its
counting of the activity using alpha-beta counter. The
analysis results of surface contaminations (in
becquerel/cm2 or Bq/cm2) are shown in Table 9.
Table 9. The analysis results of surfase contamination in
the TC and IISSNF facility from March to May 2012.

Period of
sampling

Room or
area

March 2012 Lobby

MCR
DER
Pool-I
Pool-I

Surface contamination level

(Bq/cm2)

/
none
0,0074
none
0,0087
none
0,0105
0,0006
none
none
none

I
Pool-I
II
TC-I
TC-II
TC-III
PUR
April 2012

May 2012

Lobby
MCR
DER
Pool-I
Pool-I
I
Pool-I
II
TC-I
TC-II
TC-III
PUR
Lobby
MCR
DER
Pool-I
Pool-I
I
Pool-I
II
TC-I
TC-II
TC-III
PUR

none

none

0,0009
none
none
0,0006

0,0210
none
none
0,0734

none
none
none
none
none

0,0175
0,0150
none
0,0197
0,0336

0,0017

0,0271

none
none
none
0,0015

0,0405
0,0274
none
0,0228

none
none
none
none
0,0009

0,0370
0,0469
none
0,0512
0,0216

0,0003

0,0494

0,0009
none
none
0,0472

0,0370
0,1389
0,7321
0,6414

none = no detected or lower than background activity.

In Table 9 shows that in the period from March

to May 2012, the measurement of the surface contamination level in the TC and IISSNF facility are
relatively low namely almost at all room or area for
the gross alpha and gross beta/gamma, namely none
(no detected) or relatively same with the background
activity (< 1 Bq/cm2). Beside that the surface contamination level in all area/room of the TC and
IISSNF facility still much lower than the LPHC (for
alpha = 0.37 Bq/cm2 and for beta/gamma = 3.7
Bq/cm2) [7]. This shows that the TC and IISSNF
facility maintained from surface contamination.
(4) Monitoring for safety of working area and
worker againt contamination of radionuclides
Monitoring for safety of working area was
performed by measurement of radiation exposure in
working area of the facility.The measurement results
of the average of radiation exposure on working area
in this facility are as follows : in zone I is not detected,

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whereas for zone II, zone III, and zone IV are

7.6x10-3, 15.5x10-3, and 8.2x10-3 rem/hour respectively. These measurements much lower than the
Limit of Permited Higher of Radiation Exposure
(LPHRE). The LPHRE for each zone of working
areas are as follows 16) : Zone I 0.75 rem/hour ,
Zone II 2.5 rem/hour, Zone III 2.5 rem /hour
and 10000 rem/hour, Zone IV >10000 rem
/hour.
The measurement results of the radiation exposure for working area mentioned above is conform to
the radiation doses received by workers in this facility. The average of external radiation dose
received by workers is 0.52 to 0.59 mSv/year, this is
much lower than LPHD (Limit of Permitted Higher
Dose) namely 5 mSv/year, whereas the average of
internal radiation dose received by workers shows
that no internal doses received by wokers in this
facility 17).
Based on the monitoring results for worker
safety on contamination of radionuclides during the
TC and IISNF facility operation is in very good
condition and safe in accordance with applicable
safety standards.
(5) Technical action plan for optimization of the
IISSNF operation.
Based on analysis and assessment releted to the
contamination of radionuclides mentioned above
shows that the safety aspect of the TC and IISSNF
facility operation is in a good condition and conform
to the standard operation and the existing regulation.
Further the technical action plan for optimization of
the IISSNF operation can be carried-out as follows :
a) The contamination of fission products in water
cooling system of the TC and ISSNF facility can
be removed by the purification process. In fact
that the contamination level of radionuclide from
fission products is still relatively low and even
the contamination of radionuclides from the activated corrosion products were none (no detected or lower than background activity), so the
purification unit can be operated regularly and it
is not continuous for savings or optimization of
its use.
b) The contamination level of radionuclide gases
(I131, Kr85, and Xe133) in ambient air is still in very
low level (much lower than the LPHC), so the
ambient air will be flowed into the filter unit in
the Air Channel System (ACS) automatically
when there are indications of contamination of
these radionuclides. The indication of contamination is marked by the increasing of the air activity shown by the air activity monitor in the
ACS.
c) Monitoring of radionuclide contamination in

water cooling system and surface contamination

in the working area of the TC and IISSNF facility can be carried-out also regularly based on
the contamination level shown by the activity
monitor for ambient air in the ACS.
The technical action plan mentioned above is submitted for optimization of the TC and IISSNF facility
operation and also to maintain its operation safety in
accordance with applicable safety standards.

5.CONCLUSION
The assessment based on the analysis results of
contamination level of radionuclides in the TC and
IISSNF facility during the period from February to
May 2012 can be concluded that generally indicates
the presence of contamination of the main fission
product radionuclide (Cs137, Nd147, Sb124, Y91) in
water cooling system of the TC and IISSNF facility.
The contamination levels generally were still lower
than the limit of permitted highest content (LPHC),
although some times the contamination level for the
fission products higher than LPHC. Besides that, in
the water cooling system of the TC and IISSNF
facility not indicates the presence of contamination
from the activated corrosion products such as Zn65,
Co60, and Mn54 (not like that contained in the spent
ion-exchange resin at the purification unit of the
MPR-G.A.S). Considering the contamination level
of radionuclide from fission products and activated
corosion products were still relatively very low and
only some times indicates the presence of contamination, so the purification unit can be operated regularly and it is not continuously for savings or optimization of its use. Whereas for the contamination
level of gas radio- nuclides (I131, Kr85, and Xe133) in
ambient air is also still in very low level (much lower
than LPHC), so for optimization of operation the
ambient air will be flowed into the filter unit in the
ACS automatically when there are indications of
contamination. The indication of the contamination
is marked by the increasing of the air activity shown
by the air activity monitor in the ACS. The surface
contamination level in all area/room of the TC and
IISSNF facility still much lower than the LPHC, this
case shows that the TC and IISSNF facility
maintained from surface contamination. Based on the
assessment and analysis of the contamination level
can be concluded also that the operation safety aspect of the TC and IISSNF facility is in very good
condition and safe in accordance with applicable
safety standards.
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4th International Conference on Water Supply Management System and Social Capital
Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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Makassar, Indonesia, 16-17 Juli 2012, ISBN: 978-602-203-124-6

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