Radiolysis of water by α- and β-particles from spent nuclear fuel

Abstract

When water is subjected to radiolysis by charged ionising radiation particles (β and α-particles) from nuclear plants, they generate H2 as one of the radiolytic byproducts which has highest Gvalues than other radiolytic products. The Gvalues obtained by α-radiolysis used are listed in brackets next to their respective nuclides which are: 237Np (2.551E−01), 241Am (2.269E−01), 242mAm(2.370E−01). In addition to a high Gvalue, it also has high calorific value (141 MJ/kg) which can be used in hydrogen energy generation (HEG). Hence, apart from the radiological health risk of nuclear plants, if H2 released nuclear plants is harvested and used in hydrogen energy generation it can result in great cogeneration opportunities where nuclear energy supplies hydrogen, which would otherwise be wasted, to a hydrogen energy generation plant for additional power generation.This is even more advantageous if one takes into consideration that hydrogen Gvalues (G(H)) values from nuclear plants increase with an increase in duration of water exposure to ionising radiation and also that it, i.e. (G(H)values also increase with an increase in radiation flux to which water is exposed. Hence the longer the nuclear plant is running and the higher the power reactor is increased (and consequently the radiation flux) the higher the Gvalues of hydrogen and therefore the higher the power output of hydrogen energy generation.The idea of cogeneration becomes even more lucrative if we consider that hydrogen energy generation is clean (also known as green energy) because of its insignificant contribution to environmental pollution. Therefore, as energy demand increases and the need to curb climate change by reducing over reliance on power generation that release large quantities of CO2 to the atmosphere is heightened; the more sense it makes from energy generation/supply and environmental protection point of view for cogeneration of hydrogen energy and nuclear energy.This article presents the results of radiochemical events/processes that occur when water is exposed to ionising radiation of charged particles (β and α-particles). These results supplement the fluctuation in effective dose theory/hypothesis of a previous study on time-dependent variations in the radiological health impact of an interim SNFS facility presented in 2021 (Leotlela, 2021). It also provides an analysis of factors that cause radiation damage by studying the effects of the dose rate on both high and low linear energy transfers (LETs). High LET radiation refers to all those particles with a track-average LET higher than a few eV nm−1. These include alpha particles, protons, neutrons, and heavy ions. Low LET, on the other hand, refers to particles with a track-average LET lower than 1 eV nm−1. These include beta, gamma, x-rays and electrons.