Use of passivating compounds for flushing power-generating units in nuclear power plants with RBMK reactors

Abstract

It is shown that radiation conditions can be improved by increasing the corrosion resistance of structural materials and by effective and correctly planned decontamination of the circulation loop. The first method is preferable, because it sharply decreases the amount of radioactive wastes that require further reprocessing and storage. The decontamination is to be done using passivating compounds. This increases the corrosion resistance of steel with the same or greater treatment effectiveness, prevents radionuclides from leaving the surfaces of equipment, entering the coolant, and being disseminated along the loop, and decreases the sorption of radionuclides on surfaces, which results in improved radiation conditions during the subsequent operation of the nuclear power system.