Columbia Generating Station Columbia Gene - … media Hand Book.pdfan area within a 10-mile radius...
29
News Media Columbia Gene News Media Handbook Columbia Generating Station
Transcript of Columbia Generating Station Columbia Gene - … media Hand Book.pdfan area within a 10-mile radius...
News MediaColumbia Gene
News Media HandbookColumbia Generating Station
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1
Emergency Preparedness Program............................................................................ 2
Public Information During Emergencies .................................................................... 6
General Plant Operation .......................................................................................... 7
Plant Safety Features ............................................................................................... 13
Principal Structures ................................................................................................. 15
Reactor Facts .......................................................................................................... 17
Radiation ................................................................................................................ 19
Glossary of Nuclear Terms....................................................................................... 21
Index ...................................................................................................................... 26
page 1Introduction
The events of September 11, 2001, have
focused public attention on the issue of
emergency planning for the nation’s commer-
cial nuclear power plants. In the event of an
emergency, poor communications would
result in confusion and undue alarm. The
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the
Federal Emergency Management Agency
have set specific criteria to be used by nuclear
plant owners in the event of a radiological
emergency. It is the responsibility of Energy
IntroductionNorthwest to impart factual, accurate, and
easy-to-understand information to the public,
but this cannot be accomplished without the
news media also conveying this information
accurately and objectively.
This News Media Handbook is designed
to help the news media fulfill its responsibili-
ties to the public and to assist news reporters
in their coverage of a radiological emergency
at Columbia Generating Station.
Emergency Preparednesspage 2
The purposes of declaring an Alert are toprovide additional help in responding to thesituation and provide systematic handling ofinformation and decision making. Declaring anAlert will bring all emergency centers to fullactivation.
Site Area Emergency: A Site Area Emergencyindicates an event, which involves likely or actualmajor failures of plant functions needed for theprotection of the public.
The events included in this Site AreaEmergency category represent a potential for off-site releases, which could impact the public to theextent that protective actions may be necessary.
Emergency broadcast radios would beactivated and emergency messages broadcast.Sirens would alert people using the Columbia Rivernear the plant and the river would be evacuatedwithin 10 miles of the plant. Schools within 10 milesof the plant are also evacuated as a pre-emptivemeasure.
General Emergency: A general Emergencyinvolves substantial degradation or melting of fuelin the reactor vessel with potential for loss ofcontainment integrity.
Possibilities exist for amounts of contaminationto be released. Station procedures requiremonitoring these releases and providing protectiveaction information to state and county authorities.Prompt notification of the population at risk is madeby local authorities in a General Emergency. Anydecision to evacuate or shelter will be made bythem.
The purpose of declaring a GeneralEmergency is to initiate predetermined protectiveactions for the public; to provide for continuousoff-site assessment and take additional measuresas indicated by the nature of the radiologicalrelease; and to provide for consultation and flowof information to and from various off-siteauthorities.
Emergency Preparedness ProgramThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires
utilities and local communities to have approvedemergency preparedness plans in place for alllicensed nuclear reactors.
The three key elements of the emergency planare: classifying the severity of the emergency,alerting agencies responsible for emergencyresponse activities, and taking appropriate actionin areas surrounding the power plant that couldbe affected by an emergency.
Emergency classifications
In the event of a significant problem atColumbia Generating Station, Energy Northwestwill declare one of four classes of emergenciesthat require varying responses from the utility,government agencies and the public. They are (inincreasing severity):
Unusual Event: An Unusual Event indicates apotential degradation of plant safety margins,which is not likely to affect personnel on-site, orthe public off-site or result in radioactive releasesrequiring off-site monitoring.
Unusual Event conditions do not cause seriousdamage to the plant and may not require a changein operational status. The purpose of declaring anunusual event is to make emergency responders(on site and off site) aware that their assistancemay be required later.
Alert: An Alert indicates a substantial degradationof plant safety margins which could affect on-sitepersonnel safety, could require off-site impactassessment, but is not likely to require off-sitepublic protective action.
Actual releases of radioactivity may beinvolved, and thus radiation monitoring and doseprojection may be an integral portion of theemergency response required. Note that theregulatory limits on radiation released at a minoremergency classification are a tiny fraction of theamounts judged to affect public health.
Emergency Preparedness page 3
Responsibilities of emergency responseagencies
Energy Northwest is in charge of theemergency response within the boundaries of theplant site. The Nuclear Regulatory Commissionmonitors the activities at the plant, provides expertanalysis and consultation, and assures that actionstaken to manage the accident are in the bestinterests of public health and safety. Everyoperating nuclear power plant in the country hasa hotline directly to the Nuclear RegulatoryCommission’s Operations Center nearWashington, D.C., which is staffed around theclock.
The Federal Emergency Management Agencyis responsible for coordinating the federal off-siteresponse to a nuclear plant emergency. It isresponsible for helping state and localgovernments respond to, and recover from, allsorts of large-scale crises. The Federal EmergencyManagement Agency has developed guidelines forstate and local agencies and assists them indeveloping their radiological emergency responseplans.
Community leaders and local governmentagencies are responsible for making protective-action decisions, mobilizing their resources andenlisting public cooperation. They are alsoresponsible for developing and publicizingemergency preparedness plans and conductingannual exercises. Benton and Franklin Countieshave developed nuclear emergency plans andthey coordinate emergency activities from theBenton County Emergency Operations Center inRichland, and the Franklin County EOC in Pasco.The U.S. Department of Energy office in Richlandis responsible for the health and safety of its
workers on the Hanford Reservation. The state ofWashington also activates the state EmergencyOperations Center (EOC) at Camp Murray nearOlympia. Employees of the state Department ofHealth and the Emergency Management Divisionstaff the state EOC. State representatives are alsodispatched to Energy Northwest’s emergencycenters.
Emergency planning zones
Off-site plans identify two zones. One coversan area within a 10-mile radius of the plant, inwhich direct exposure to radiation from a plume(an invisible cloud of radioactive materials) ispossible. Most airborne radioactivity would bedissipated to safe levels within 10 miles of theplant. The other zone covers a 50-mile radius fromthe plant, where people could be exposed indirectlyto radioactive elements through contamination ofwater supplies, food crops or grazing lands overan extended period of time.
In the event of an accident, residents of the10-mile zone must be alerted promptly. This isdone with sirens, radio and television broadcastsand tone-alert radios. Tone-alert radios areactivated on receipt of special tones - the onesheard during radio tests of the Emergency AlertingSystem. Residents will be advised of appropriateprotective actions, such as seeking shelter orevacuating the area. Their response will dependon the nature of the accident, how quickly it isevolving and how much, if any, radioactive materialis likely to be released.
Emergency Preparednesspage 4
There are three ways to minimize radiationexposures: shielding, distance and time. In aserious reactor accident, residents of the zonesmay be asked to seek shelter or leave the areauntil the plume passes or the radioactivitydissipates. Emergency broadcasts will adviseresidents of the appropriate action.
An accidental emission could consist of aninvisible plume containing radioactive materials.The path of the plume would depend on theweather. For instance, stagnant air conditionscould stall the plume over a small area, or raincould wash radioactive particles to the ground.During unstable conditions, the plume could riseinto the air, possibly hundreds or thousands of feet,and then disperse.
900515.10mi June 2002
H O R N R A P ID S
D E V E L P M E N T
GE
O. W
AS
H. W
AY
SNYDER
ASH C
OLU
MB
IA R
D.
BASIN HILL RD.
SHEFFIELD RD.
IRONWOOD RD.
DAVIS LN.
RINGOLD RD.
WEST FIR RD.
RUSSELL RD.
FA
IRW
AY
HARRIGAN
LN.G
RE
EN
AC
RE
S R
D.
RIVER VIEW RD.
GLA
DE
NO
RT
H R
D.
W. KLAMATH RD.
SA
GE
HIL
L R
D.
ALB
AN
Y R
D.
WA
HLU
KE
RD
.
CHESTNUT
BASIN CITY
RANGERR 1
70 GR
EE
NA
R
ELM
AR
R 170
DR
UM
MO
ND
W. JUNIPER RD.
PALM
ER D
R
MILLWOOD LN.
N. D
AY
TO
N R
D.
N. COULEE RD.
FIR
CR
ES
T R
D.
AU
BU
RN
RD
.
G LE N W O O D
JUNIPER RD.
GLE
NW
OO
D
MATHEWS CORNER
N. B
ELL
EV
UE
ELM RD.
FIR RD.
EV
ER
ET
T R
D.
DOGWOOD
N. BELLEVUE
GLENWOOD
GU
M D
R.
BELLEVUE DR.
DA
YT
ON
FIR WY.
FIR
LN
.
M E R R ILLS
M K T .
TA
YL
OR
FL
AT
S R
D
W. SAGEMOOR RD.
CO
TT
ON
A Q U A R IU S
P IC E S
A R IE S D R . BIRCH RD.
ALDER RD.
HE
LM D
R.
SELPH LANDING RD.
FR
AS
ER
W. DOGWOOD
BE
LLE
VU
E
B P A
S U B S T .
B A X T E R
C O U N T R Y H A V E N
A C A D E M Y
C O U N T R Y
C H R IS T IA N C E N T E R
CEDARN. CHERRY
FFTF
ROUTE 4 SOUTH
RO
UT
E 1
0 S
OU
TH
HORN RAPIDS RD.
ACCES
S RD.
HO
RN
RD
.
HA
RR
ING
TO
N
W E ID LE R D .
OLD HANFORD
TOWNSITE
ROUTE 4 SOUTH
RO
UT
E 2
SO
UT
H
ROUTE 11A
WNP-1
WYE BARRICADE BPA ASHE SUBST.
RINGOLD RIVER. RD.
G A T E
5-MILE ZONE
E D W IN M A R K H A M
S C H O O L
GLA
DE
NO
RT
H R
D.
CYPRESSCY
PR
ES
S L
N.
RINGOLD
RIN
GO
LD R
D.
SM
ITH
LN
.
ELTOPIA W. RD.
300
A R E A
GE
MIN
I D
R.
5 mi.
PASCO
YAK
IMA
RIVER
RICHLAND
DENT
CO
LUM
BIA
RIV
ER
VAN GIESEN
RICHLANDAIRPORT
WESTRICHLAND
RD
68
BO
MB
ING
RA
NG
E R
D
ELM LN.
HOLLY DR.
HOPE VALLEY
OLY
MP
IA D
R
BA
AR
TIO
NE
ALDER
FIELD DR.PHEND
OR
EG
ON
ST
SELP
H L
AND
ING
RUPERT RD.
200 EAST
N. B
AA
RT
GA
RF
IELD
LOW
ER
RIV
ER
RD
Energy Northwest
BAKER
HO
RN
RA
PID
S D
R.
AUSTIN
BISMARK CTCARLSBAD CT
McWHORTER LNABLIENE
ALDERBROOKSHANNON LN
CAREL LN
Franklin County
Hanford Site
Benton County
AAAAA
WA
HLU
KE
RD
B A T T E LLE B LV D
N. RD. 68
395
182
ST
EV
EN
S D
R.
224
240
TO YAKIMA BARRICADE
12
SN
IVE
LY
2 mi.
10 mi. Zone
1.2 mi.
BELLFLOWER RD.
HOLLINGSWORTH RD.
LOWE RD
MO
UN
TA
IN V
IST
A R
D.
C A S P E R LN .
F IS H
H A T C H E R Y
E N T R A N C E
W A H LU K E
H U N T IN G
A R E A
F IR E C O N T .
G A T E
10 mi. Zone
W. S
AGEMOOR R
D.
CO
ULE
E
HO
OP
ER
N. C
OU
LEE
CO
LON
IAL
HOLLINGSWORTH
82
2
PASCO
AIRPORT
BENTON CITY
F R A M A T O M EO R V P A R K
395
260
5 mi.
CONNELL
N
ACCESS RD.
14
L E S L IE
G R O V E S
P A R K
GRO
SSCUP
B IG R IV E R
C O U N T R Y
S C H O O L
W O O D
K IN D E R -C A R E
T W IN B R ID G E S
Columbia Generating
Station
LEGENDPAVED ROAD
IMPRVD RD OR GRVL ROAD
RAILROAD
POLITICAL BOUNDRY
SECTION BOUNDARY
GRID RECTANGLE BORDER
SIREN
EMERG. WRKR./ASSIS. CTR.
POWER LINE
GRID RECTANGLE
GRID QUADRANT
SECTION
0 1 2MI.SCALE
Columbia Generating Station
Plume Exposure Pathway Emergency
Planning Zone
A343
4
A
3A
3B
3C
Columbia Basin College
W CLARK ST
10-Mile Emergency Planning Zone
Emergency Preparedness page 5
In a severe radiological emergency involvingthe release of radioactive iodine, the drugpotassium iodide might be used to preventradiation injury to the thyroid gland by saturating itwith nonradioactive iodine. This blocks the thyroidfrom absorbing radioactive iodine from the air,
contaminated water, milk or foods. Emergencyworkers who remain or work in an areacontaminated by radioactive iodine may use it. Thestate and local authorities plan to evacuate thegeneral public before the hazard exists and avoidpublic distribution of potassium iodide.
82
221
243
124
260
26
21
OREGON
CO
LUM
BIA
RIV
ER
37
WASHINGTON
920087.2 ColorJUNE 2002
395
HermistonBoardman
Prosser
RichlandPasco
KennewickKennewick
Sunnyside
Zillah
Mabton
Bickleton
Grandview
Eltopia
Mesa
College Place
TouchetWalla Walla
SN
AK
E
RIV
ER
Wallula
PrescottBentonCity
West Richland
Juniper Dunes
Wilderness
POTHOLES
KITTITAS
YAKIMA
BENTON
FRANKLIN
ADAMS
George
Moses Lake
Warden
Connell
Kahlotus
82 12
Lind
Priest Rapids Dam
Wanapum Dam
McNary Dam
Ice Harbor DamIce Harbor Dam
Basin City
Nor
th G
lade
Tay
lor
Fla
ts
West Eltopia
Ringold Rd
Hollingsworth Rd
W Sagemoor Rd
HanfordSite
10
Miles
5
Miles
50
Miles
730
730
12
Vantage
Kittitas
EE
EE NN EE
NN EE
NN NN EENN NN WW
WW
NN WW
WW NN WW
EE SS EE
SS EE
WW SS WW
SS WWSS SS EE
SS
SS SS WW
14
Yakima River
Toppenish
4
3A
1
SCALE 10 MILES
240
26
17
17
125
395
395
100N
2
24
KLICKITAT
GRANT
241
WALLA WALLA
84
UMATILLA
MORROW
82
Umatilla
50
Miles
84
Umatilla Ordinance Depot
Ritzville
COLUMBIA
RIVER
Yakima
207
90
170
260
NN
24
Othello
24
22
N
21
261
AA395
AAAA12
Ellensburg
50-Mile Emergency Planning Zone
3B
3C
Columbia Generating
Station
COLUMBIA
RIVER
page 6 Public Information during Emergencies
Public Information During Emergencies
Location of EmergencyCenters
Energy Northwest’s Communications &Industry Affairs organization is responsible forensuring an accurate and reliable flow of information to the news media and public. Publicinformation activities are required to be initiatedfor alert, site area and general emergencies.
A Joint Information Center will be establishedat 3000 George Washington Way in Richland. Thebuilding can accommodate large numbers of newsmedia personnel. Representatives from theDepartment of Energy, the state, the counties, theNuclear Regulatory Commission and the FederalEmergency Management Agency will be availableto meet there with news media reporters.
Twenty-four-hour information services include:
media briefings - held at regular intervals withtechnical personnel available to answer questions;
media work space - with telephones with localaccess and operator assistance;
support materials - including readily availablenews releases and videotapes of briefings;
telephone response team - responding toincoming media calls with the latest availableinformation;
public response team - responding to incomingcalls from the public with the latest availableinformation.
The Emergency Operations Facility will beactivated in an emergency. Located in the PlantSupport Facility near the plant site, the buildinghas an area set aside that may be used for pressbriefings. Tours may be set up at the JointInformation Center to bring news media reportersto the Emergency Operations Facility.
ST
EV
EN
S D
R.
ROUTE 4 SOUTH
020147.3
FFTF
HORN RAPIDS RD.
300 AREA
RICHLANDAIRPORT
FRAMATOME
ACCESS RD.
ACCESS RD.
COLUMBIAGENERATINGSTATION
PSF
Battelle Blvd
SITE-ONE
BPA ASHE SUBST.
Geo
rge
Was
hing
ton
Way
CO
LU
MB
IA R
IVE
R
YAKIMA RIVER
Hill St.
11th
Lindberg
Por
t of B
ento
n
Ric
hard
son
CO
LU
MB
IA R
IVE
R
Bechtel
ENOC
10th9th
GEORGE WASHINGTON
WAY TURNOFF
WYE BARRICADE
Rt 10 South
WEST RICHLAND
RICHLAND
240
BOMBING RANGE RD
GROSSCUPRD
HARRINGTON SNIVELY
TWIN BRIDGES
WEIDLE RD
page 7General Plant Operation
000473.57
Energy
U Uranium
F Fission Fragment
F Fission Fragment
n neutron
F
F
U
U
Un
n
F
F
n
n
n
n
n
F
F
F
F
F
F
UF
F
F
F
U
U
n
nU
U
U
U
UU
U
Un
n
nn
n
n
nn
F
F
U
U
U
U
U
Columbia Generating Station is a GeneralElectric boiling water reactor with a Westinghouseturbine generator rated at 1,183 megawatts -enough power to meet the needs of a city the sizeof Seattle.
All thermal power plants, whether fossil ornuclear fueled, generate electricity in much thesame way. Energy in the form of steam is used tospin a turbine, which drives an electrical generatorto produce electricity. The major differencebetween fossil and nuclear plants is the methodused to generate the heat to produce steam.
Fossil-fueled plants (fueled by oil, coal andnatural gas) use the heat of combustion to convertwater to steam. Nuclear plants, such aspressurized water reactors and boiling waterreactors, use heat created by the fissioning, orsplitting apart, of uranium atoms to convert waterto steam.
At the core of an atom is a nucleus made upof protons and neutrons. Orbiting the nucleus is athird type of particle, called an electron. Protons
are positively charged, electrons negativelycharged and neutrons have no charge. Usuallythe atom exists in balance between these forces,but sometimes atoms can be unstable. In anattempt to reach a stable state, the atom rids itselfof excess energy by giving off radiation.
Some atoms become so unstable that theirnucleus splits apart, or fissions. This is the processthat powers nuclear reactors. When a neutronstrikes the nucleus of an atom of uranium-235 inthe reactor fuel, it is absorbed, making the nucleusunstable. The nucleus will split into two fragments,releasing energy in the form of heat. This splittingof the nucleus also releases two or three neutronsthat can be potentially absorbed by other atomsof uranium-235 causing more fissions andsustaining the chain reaction.
A boiling water reactor is one of two majortypes of light-water reactors used for commercialpower generation in the United States. It differsfrom a pressurized water reactor in that the coolantis boiled in the reactor and sent directly to theturbine.
General Plant Operation
Fission Chain Reaction
page 8 General Plant Operation
Reactor components
All nuclear reactors have four majorcomponents: fuel to produce energy; coolant toremove heat from the fuel; a moderator to slowthe neutrons and increase the chances of theirbeing absorbed by a uranium-235 atom, and acontrol material that absorbs neutrons andregulates the fission process.
Uranium dioxide is used as fuel. The fuel ismade up of uranium-238 with a small percentage(about 3 percent) of uranium-235. This fuel is inthe form of a hard ceramic material pressed intosmall cylindrical pellets. These pellets are stackedin long metal tubes known as fuel rods. The fuelrods are housed in the reactor core. In ColumbiaGenerating Station, the reactor core holds 764 fuelbundles (also known as fuel assemblies), eachcontaining 72 fuel rods. The reactor core holds atotal of 153 tons of uranium-dioxide fuel.
Purified water is used as the coolant. Thecoolant is pumped around and between the fuelrods to remove heat from the fuel and producesteam to generate electricity.
Water also serves as the moderator. Themoderator slows fast neutrons produced by fission.Fast neutrons have a tendency not to interact withthe nucleus of uranium-235 atoms. By slowingthem, these neutrons are more readily absorbedby uranium-235 atoms, causing more fissions andsustaining the nuclear chain reaction. Without themoderator, a chain reaction could not be sustained.Boiling reduces the density of the water, making itloss effective in slowing down the neutrons andmaking the reactor more stable (i.e. the more ittries to generate, the greater the tendency toreduce power).
Boron is used as a control material. Boronabsorbs neutrons and regulates the number offissions. The boron is encased in metal rods, calledcontrol rods, and inserted into the reactor core fromthe bottom of the reactor vessel. By inserting orwithdrawing the control rods, the nuclear chainreaction can be slowed down, speeded up orstopped.
Boiling Water Reactor
000473.30
Main Steam Line
Turbine Generator
AAAAAAAAA
Control Rods
Reactor Vessel
Suppression Pool Cooling Pond
Cooling Tower
Circulating Water
General Plant Operation page 9
1. Vent and head spray
2. Steam dryer
3. Steam outlet
4. Core spray outlet
5. Steam separators
6. Feedwater inlet
7. Feedwater sparger
8. Low-pressure coolant injection inlet
9. Core spray pipe
10. Core spray sparger
11. Top guide
12. Jet pump
13. Core shroud
14. Fuel assemblies
15. Control blade
16. Core plate
17. Jet pump/ recirculation water inlet
18. Recirculation water outlet
19. Vessel support skirt
20. Control rod drives
21. In-core flux monitor
00473.59
Reactor Assembly
page 10 General Plant Operation
Plant systems
The plant can be divided into two major areas:the nuclear steam supply system and the balanceof plant systems.
The major purpose of the nuclear steam supplysystem is to generate the steam used to spin theturbine. Water is converted to steam in the reactorvessel by heat from the nuclear fuel.
The purpose of the balance of plant systemsis to accept the steam, use it to generate electricity,condense the steam back into water and pumpthe water back into the reactor vessel.
Fuel Bundlesand
Control Rod Modules
1. Top fuel guide
2. Channel fastener
3. Upper tie plate
4. Expansion spring
5. Locking tab
6. Channel
7. Control rod
8. Fuel rod
9. Spacer
10. Core plate assembly
11. Lower tie plate
12. Fuel support piece
13. Fuel pellets
14. End plug
15. Channel spacer
16. Plenum spring
00473.59
General Plant Operation page 11
Nuclear steam supply system
The heart of the nuclear steam supply systemis the reactor assembly. It consists of the reactorvessel, internal jet pumps, control rods and theirdrive mechanisms, the fuel core, and the steamseparator and dryer assemblies. Water returningto the reactor vessel flows to the jet pumps whereit is forced to the bottom of the vessel under thenuclear fuel core. The water then flows up throughthe fuel where part of it is converted to steam. Thissteam-water mixture flows from the top of the fuelcore to the steam-separator assemblies, locatedin the top portion of the reactor vessel. The steamseparator removes most of the water and passesthe steam to the dryer assembly. The steam dryerremoves the remaining moisture from the steamand the dried steam is sent to the turbine. (Moistureremoval from the steam is very important - waterdroplets striking the fast-moving turbine bladescause rapid blade deterioration.)
Moisture removed by the separator and dryermixes with the feedwater and returns to the jetpumps. A portion of this water provides the suction
for the reactor water recirculation system. Therecirculation systems forces additional coolingwater through the core, increasing the coolant’sability to remove heat and resulting in more powerbeing generated. The recirculation system alsocontrols the number of fissions in the reactor coreby varying the flow of water through the fuel. Asthe flow of coolant is increased, fewer steambubbles are formed in the fuel core. Since wateris a better moderator than steam, more neutronsare slowed and there are more fissions. If therecirculation flow is decreased, more steambubbles are formed, there is less moderation andfew fissions occur. Basically, the control rods areused to make major fluctuations in the power levelof the reactor while the recirculation flow is variedto make minor adjustments.
Control rod drive: The control rod drive systempositions the reactor control rods in the core toprovide reactor power control and rapid reactorshutdown (scram). The control rods are “X” shapedand move up and down between fuel assemblies.
Basic Steam Cycle
000473.29DEC 2000
Main steam
Reactor vessel
Separators & dryers
Feedwater
Feedpumps
Feedwater heaters
Demineralizer
ControlrodsRecirc
pump
CoreCore
Extrac-tion
steam
Condenser
Condensate boosterpumps
Demin.
Condensatepumps
Moisture sep/reheater
HP turbineExhaust
Thermal source(main steam &
extraction steam)
Water
Feed-water
heaters
Extractionsteam(typ)
Cascading heater drains (typ)
Tocond
Recircpump
Drains
HPturbine
LPturbine
Turbinegen.
LPturbine
LPturbine
Condenser Condenser
General Plant Operationpage 12
In Columbia Generating Station there are 185separate control rods, each with its own hydraulicdrive mechanism. The drive mechanism positionsthe rods at precisely spaced intervals or notches.Each notch is 6 inches apart on the 12-foot-longdrive mechanism. The control rods are eitherinserted or removed, one or more notches at atime, to achieve the desired power level.
Fuel assemblies: The nuclear fuel core inColumbia Generating Station contains 764 fuelassemblies. These assemblies consist of 72 rodsbound together in a 9-by-9 array. There is spacebetween the rods to allow for flow of cooling water.
Each rod is about 1/2-inch in diameter and 12feet long. It is hollow and is filled with hundreds ofpellets of uranium dioxide fuel, each about 3/8-inch in diameter and 3/8-inch long. The rods aremade from zirconium (Zircaloy-2), a metal that isparticularly well suited for this application.
Balance of plant systems
The turbine-generator used in ColumbiaGenerating Station is similar to those used inpressurized water reactors and fossil-fueled plants.It consists of a high-pressure turbine, a moisture-removal device and three low-pressure turbinesall joined on a common shaft and coupled to themain generator.
Steam supplied by the main steam systempasses first into the high-pressure turbine section.After the high-pressure turbine, it passes througha moisture separator to remove excess moisturetrapped in the steam. The steam is reheated beforebeing piped to the low-pressure turbine sections,where more energy is extracted to drive the
generator rotor. Finally the steam is exhausted tothe main condenser situated beneath the lowpressure turbine sections.
In the condenser, the steam is cooled bycontact with thousands of tubes containing coldwater. Water collected in the bottom of thecondenser is picked up by the condensate pumpsand sent to several filter demineralizer units, whereit is mechanically filtered and purified by ionexchange. (Clean, chemically pure water isnecessary to minimize deposits on reactor corecomponents and reduce corrosion and radiationlevels.)
Condensate booster pumps force the purifiedwater through a series of heaters to preheat thewater before it is returned to the reactor vessel.Preheating this water increases the overallefficiency of the plant by reducing the amount ofheat required to boil the water.
Reactor feedwater pumps provide the pressurerequired to return the feedwater to the reactorvessel. High-pressure heaters further raise thewater temperature before it is injected into thereactor vessel.
The circulating water system supplies coolingwater to the main condenser. As it flows throughthe tubing in the condenser, the water in thissystem absorbs heat from steam exhausted fromthe turbine. This heated water is circulated to sixmechanical-draft cooling towers, each of which hassix large fans to draw cool air past the circulatingwater. The fans can be operated in anycombination to provide the proper cooling. Thesetowers are the source of the vapor clouds seenrising from the plant.
page 13Plant Safety Features
Nuclear power plants are designed using amultiple-barrier concept to protect the public fromharm by preventing the release of radiation orcontamination to the environment. These barriersinclude:
Fuel pellet: The fuel itself is in the form of hardceramic pellets to hold together the uranium andsolid radioactive waste materials.
Fuel cladding: The fuel pellets are containedwithin corrosion, heat and radiation-resistant,zirconium metal tubes, or cladding.
Reactor vessel: The fuel is housed in a steelpressure vessel with 6-inch thick walls. The vesselis designed to withstand internal pressures well inexcess of the highest pressure seen duringoperation.
Primary containment: A leak-tight steel shellencloses the reactor to prevent the escape of anyradioactive material during an emergency.
Shield wall: The reactor vessel is encircled by a6-foot thick concrete shield wall, which protectsthe primary containment, and shields plantpersonnel against radiation.
Secondary containment: The concrete and steelreactor building is the final protective barrier. Aventilation system maintains a slight vacuum inthe building so any leakage will be into rather thanout of the building.
Plant Safety Features
EL. 522
EL. 501
EL. 471
EL. 441
EL. 422
AAAAAAAAA
Reactor Building Secondary Containment
Reactor Pressure Vessel
Fuel Core Region
Sacrificial ShieldBiological ShieldDry Well
Primary Containment Vessel
Wet Well
Steam DryerAnd Sep.
Pool
Spent Fuel Pool
SBGT System
Fuel Pellet
Reactor Coolant
000473.27DEC 2000
EL. 606
EL. 572
EL. 548
Elevated Duct Release
Containment Concept
page 14 Plant Safety Features
The design redundancy concept is anotherway safety is assured. A nuclear power plant hasmany overlapping safety features to provideadditional barriers to the release of radiation orcontamination. The most important of thesefeatures is the emergency core cooling system.
The emergency core cooling system ensuresthat a back-up water supply will prevent the reactorcore from overheating if the normal water supplyis lost or reduced. This system is automaticallyactivated when sensors indicate a low water levelin the reactor vessel.
The emergency core cooling system is madeup of the following subsystems:
High-pressure core spray: The purpose of thissubsystem is to depressurize the boiler systemand replace water lost in a loss-of-coolant accident.It also prevents fuel damage by spraying coolingwater onto the fuel assemblies if the water level inthe reactor drops low enough to uncover part ofthe fuel. The high-pressure core spray has a largeenough volume to supply total emergency coolingrequirements and is completely independent ofother plant systems, with its own diesel generator,batteries, valves and piping.
Low-pressure core spray: This subsystemprevents fuel-cladding damage if the core isuncovered by a loss-of-coolant accident. It sprayswater onto the reactor core after reactor pressureis reduced or if other systems cannot adequatelycover the fuel.
Automatic depressurization system: Thissystem reduces reactor-vessel pressure to enablethe flow from the low-pressure core spray and low-pressure coolant injection system to enter thevessel and cool the fuel core. This subsystem usesseven safety relief valves to blow down high-pressure steam from the reactor vessel to thesuppression pool. The suppression pool is a tankof water in the bottom of the reactor containment.It holds approximately 130,000 cubic feet of water.
Residual heat removal: This system coolssuppression pool water, reduces reactor watertemperature and provides decay heat removal.The low-pressure coolant injection is a subsystemof the residual heat removal system. It works inconjunction with other emergency core coolingsystem components to restore and maintain thedesired water level in the reactor vessel after aloss-of-coolant accident. Decay heat is the energyreleased by atoms in the core after the chainreaction has been stopped.
EmergencyCore
CoolingSystem(ECCS)
000473.06
Pressure Suppression
Pool
Reactor Vessel
Drywell
AAAAAAAAAAAA
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
RCIC MCore
M
M
M
M
HPCS
LPCS
LPCI-A
LPCI-B
LPCI-C
PrimaryContainment
CondensationStorage Tank
RCIC - Reactor Isolation Cooling (Non-ECCSHPCS - High Pressure Core SprayLPCS - Low Pressure Core SprayLPCI - Low pressure Coolant Injection
page 15Principal Structures
Kootenai
Deschutes
Spray Ponds Reactor Bldg.
Warehouses
Cooling Towers
Turbine Generator
Bldg.
Protected Area Boundary
Hwy 240
Parking
Parking
000473.25930694.1
Route 4 South
Yakima
Reactor building230 feet high, 135 feet wide and 151 feet long.The reactor building houses the primarycontainment and provides secondary containmentfor the reactor. It also houses spent fuel storage,refueling equipment, emergency core cooling andauxiliary equipment.
Radwaste and control building105 feet high, 220 feet wide and 171 feet long.This building houses the liquids and solidsradwaste system (the systems used to consolidateand dispose of low-level radioactive wastesgenerated during the plant operation), componentsof the off-gas system and the main control room.
Turbine building143 feet high, 190 feet wide and 300 feet long.The turbine building houses the turbine generator.
Diesel generator buildingThe three standby diesel generators andassociated controls are housed in this building.
Cooling towersSix mechanical-draft cooling towers, each 185 feetin diameter and 60 feet high. These mechanical-draft cooling towers are used to dissipate heat fromthe condenser cooling water to the atmosphere.
Circulating water pumphouseThis building houses the circulating water pumps,plant-service water pumps and fire-protectionpumps.
Spray pondsDuring emergency shutdown, the spray ponds arethe heat sink providing back-up cooling for thereactor and associated safety equipment.
Yakima buildingThe Yakima services building houses the make-up water treatment system, machine shop andoffice area.
Principal Structures
Columbia Generating Station Facility Layout
page 16 Principal Structures
010155.2April 2002
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Cooling towers
52
3
4
Transformer Yard
27 62
23
Spray Pond
7
30
22
1
139
17
75
24
47
64
26
21
Parking
11
12
32
15
Parking68
88
Spray Pond
19
65
3839
3637
76
77
78
79
To Kootenai Bldg 34& Training Bldg 35
8025
106
105
104
RR
ISFSI
Bldg No.123456789
1112131517192122
New Name - bldg. Description/Old NameAdministration BuildingReactor BuildingRadwaste BuildingTurbine Generator BuildingTechnical Support BuildingHealth Physics Access PointDiesel Generator BuildingASD BuildingPalouse - EngineeringChelan - Construction & Maint. ServicesHeavy Equip. MaintenanceCowlitz - FacilitiesLaborers StorageWenatchee - Site MaintenanceBattery StorageBackflow Preventer BuildingService Substation
23242526273032343536373839476264
Diesel Fuel Polishing BuildingVisitor Center (closed)Protected Area Access Point (P.A.A.P.)Deschutes - Plant Engineering CenterYakima - General Service BuildingWind River - Circ Water PumphouseColville - Site Contractor Fab ShopKootenai building - Plant Support FacilityKlickitat Training BuildingStandby Service Water Pumphouse 1AStandby Service Water Pumphouse 1BElectrical Building #1Electrical Building #2Document StoragePrimary Access Point (P.A.P.)Willamette - Records Mgmt./C&MS/Fitnessfor Duty Facility/First Aid/Access Authorization
7576 thru 80
88100104105106
Craft LunchroomWarehouse /PaintersSnake River Complex (Warehouse Area)Okanogan - Outage/NDE/Security/NRCVacantISFSI SwitchgearSaluce - ISFSI Equipment StorageDry Creek - ISFSI Office Building
65
Site Map
page 17Reactor Facts
LocationOn a 1,089-acre site within the U.S. Departmentof Energy ’s Hanford Site in southeasternWashington state. The plant is about 12 miles northof Richland and 3 miles west of the Columbia River.
Reactor typeGeneral Electric boiling water reactor.
Turbine-generatorWestinghouse-one high-pressure turbine intandem with three low-pressure turbines.
Generating capacity1,183 megawatts electrical (net) at 1,800revolutions per minute.
Reactor vesselWeight: 1,140 tonsHeight: 76 feetInside diameter: 21 feetWall thickness: 6 to 9 inches
Reactor FactsCoolant inlet temperature: 420 degrees F.Coolant outlet temperature: 547 degrees F.Steam flow: 14.7 million pounds per hourSteam pressure: 1005 pounds per square inchSteam temperature: 543 degrees F.
Fuel assemblies764 assemblies72 fuel rods per assemblyLength: 150 inchesRod diameter: 0.48 inchesFuel material: Uranium dioxide, low enrichedControl rod drives: 185Control rod length: 12 feet
Reactor recirculation pumpsNumber: TwoCapacity: 47,200 gallons per minuteHeight: 21 feetMotor: 8,900 rated horsepowerSpeed: 1,780 revolutions per minute.
page 18 Reactor Facts
Hanford Site
Sca
le
02
mile
4
Eva
cuat
ion
Ro
ute
s an
d A
ssis
tan
ce C
ente
rsB
ig R
iver
Co
un
try
Sch
oo
l
Co
nn
ell H
igh
Sch
oo
l
Co
un
try
Ch
rist
ian
Cen
ter
Co
un
try
Hav
en A
cad
emy
Ed
win
Mar
kham
Sch
oo
l
FF
TF
Ho
rn R
apid
s O
ff-R
oad
Veh
icle
Par
k
Ho
rn R
apid
s P
ark
K-1
6
B-2
3
J-17
J-16
J-16
J-13
L-1
3
K-1
2
Isaa
c S
teve
ns
Mid
dle
Sch
oo
l
Kio
na-
Ben
ton
Cit
y H
igh
Sch
oo
l
Les
lie G
rove
s P
ark
Co
lum
bia
Gen
erat
ing
Sta
tio
n
Rat
tles
nak
e M
ou
nta
in S
ho
oti
ng
Fac
ility
Rin
go
ld F
ish
ing
Are
a
Ver
nit
a B
rid
ge
O-1
9
N-1
0
M-1
5
H-1
4
L-1
1
G-1
5
D-5
Wah
luke
Hu
nti
ng
Are
a
Wah
luke
Sch
oo
l
Wh
ite
Blu
ffs
Fer
ry L
and
ing
200
Wes
t A
rea
200
east
Are
a
100
Are
a
300
Are
a
E-1
3
A-1
B-1
1
G-8
G-9
C-8
K-1
5
Co
un
try
Hav
en A
cad
emy
Co
un
try
Ch
rist
ian
Cen
ter
Ed
win
Mar
kham
Sch
oo
lB
ig R
iver
Co
un
try
Sch
oo
l
Sch
oo
ls w
ith
in t
he
10-m
ile z
on
e:
31 2 4
Pri
mar
y E
vacu
atio
n R
ou
tes
Ass
ista
nce
Cen
ters
Sir
ens
N
HE
ND
RIC
KS
RD
.
Han
ford
S
ite
Gra
nt
Co
un
ty
Ben
ton
Co
un
ty
Fra
nkl
inC
ou
nty
CO
NN
EL
L H
IGH
SC
HO
OL
1200
W. C
lark
KIO
NA
-BE
NT
ON
CIT
YH
IGH
SC
HO
OL
1205
Hor
n R
d.
182
FF
TF
L SW RD.
29 T
HS
W
25 SW
VE
RN
ITA
BR
IDG
E
Columbia River
HORN RD.Rive
r
INGTON
WE
ST
RIC
HL
AN
D
RD.
VELY
BOMBING
RANGE RD.
KIO
NA
KEEN
E R
D.
SNI
BE
NT
ON
CIT
Y
Ho
rn R
apid
s O
ff-R
oad
V
ehic
leP
ark
KE
NN
EW
ICK
PA
SC
O
ISA
AC
S
TE
VE
NS
MID
DL
ES
CH
OO
L11
20 N
. 22n
d
ME
SA
CO
NN
EL
L
BA
SIN
CIT
Y
10T
H A
VE
.
GA
GE
RD
.
GLADE NORTH RD.
KAH
LOTU
S R
D.
SE
LPH
LA
ND
ING
RD
.
DE
NT
RD
.
GEO. WASH WAY
STEVENS DR.
BA
TT
ELL
EB
LVD
.NO. C
OLUMBIA RIVER R
D.
ALD
ER
BIR
CH
SA
GE
MO
OR
RD
.
CE
DA
R
DO
GW
OO
D
TAYLOR FLATS RD.
WE
ST
FIR
ELM
ELT
OP
IA
AUBURN
RIN
GO
LD R
D.
IRO
NW
OO
D
GLADE NORTH RD.
GARFIELD RD.
DA
VIS
LAN
E
MILLWOOD
RU
SS
ELL
R
D.
LANGFORD RD.
KLA
MA
TH
RD
.B
ELL
FLO
WE
R
RD
.
BA
SIN
HIL
L R
D.
SR 170
FAIRWAY RD.
HO
LLIN
GS
WO
RT
H
WAHLUKE RD
SAGEHILL
BU
FF
ALO
SR
170
BELLEVUE
WE
ST
RD
.
SH
EF
FIE
LD
MT. VISTA
ASH
WH
ITE
BL
UF
FS
FE
RR
Y L
AN
DIN
G
LE
SL
IE
GR
OV
ES
P
AR
K
DAYTON
3
MA
TT
AW
A
Rat
tles
nak
eM
ou
nta
inS
ho
oti
ng
F
acili
ty
Rin
go
ldF
ish
ing
Are
a
200
Wes
t A
rea
200
Eas
tA
rea
A B C E F G H I J K L M N O P Q
12
34
56
78
910
1112
1314
1618
2022
1517
1921
23
100
AR
EA
300
Are
a
Ho
rn R
apid
s P
ark
Wah
luke
Hu
nti
ng
Are
a
RIC
HL
AN
D
5-MILE ZONE
12
395
82
24
Col
d C
reek
Roa
d
SU
NN
YS
IDEBen
ton
Co
un
ty
Yakima County
CO
LU
MB
IA
GE
NE
RA
TIN
G
ST
AT
ION
28 T
HS
W
27 T
HS
W
25.5
SW
Road O SW
EL
TO
PIA
224
241
RA
TT
LES
NA
KE
RID
GE
TO
YA
KIM
A
24
12
395
5
4
3D
1
6
2
K
N
240
7
243
4
Tw
in
CO
UR
T ST
.
3C3B
VA
N G
IES
EN
Brid
ges
HARR
3A
Yakima
Co
mm
un
ity
Ho
rn R
apid
s M
aste
r P
lan
Rd. 68
10 M
ILE
RA
DIU
S
17D
260
page 19Radiation
After more than 80 years of intensive scientificstudy, radiation is the most understood, easilydetected, precisely measured and strictly regulatedof all environmental agents.
Man has been exposed to radiation from hisbeginning–from cosmic rays and the sun; depositsof radium and thorium in the soil; radon in the air;and radioactive potassium in food and water.
Radiation contributed by man’s technology isidentical in all respects to naturally occurringradiation. Most of this radiation comes from X-raysand radioactive materials used in medicine.Mining, burning fuels, and buildings also contributeto radiation doses. So does fallout from past testingof nuclear weapons, color television and smokedetectors.
Usually when the word “radiation” is used itmeans ionizing radiation - radiation that has somuch energy that it changes the electric chargeof the atoms it strikes. Ionizing radiation can takethe form of either particles or waves. The wavesinclude X-rays and gamma rays. Particle radiationis made up of alpha and beta particles andneutrons.
Gamma rays are penetrating enough to beused for industrial radiology and cancer treatment.
RadiationPenetrating power of radiation
Dense materials such as lead or concrete can stopX-rays and gamma rays most effectively.
Alpha particles are not very penetrating - asheet of paper or the outer layers of human skinwill stop them. Therefore, they do not pose anyexternal threat. However, if alpha-emitting particlesenter the body–inhaled or swallowed-they candamage nearby tissue in any area in which theylodge. Beta radiation is usually more penetratingthan alpha radiation, but its range is still limited toa few feet in air.
Neutrons are released during fission or byother nuclear reactions. A few radioactive materialsdecay by emitting neutrons, but most of thesematerials decay in a few seconds. Although theyplay an important role in the control and operationof nuclear reactors, neutrons are not a concern inexternal releases of radioactive materials. Theyare a significant concern only inside operatingnuclear reactors.
Measuring radiation exposure
Usually radiation doses are measured inmillirems, or 1/1,000 of a rem. Measured inmillirems, a lethal radiation dose would be 500,000millirem (lethal to 50 percent of persons exposed).
000473.32
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Lead, Concrete, Water
page 20 Radiation
Genetic problems related to radiation havebeen observed only in laboratory experiments withanimals. No heredity problems have beendiscovered in man, although it is prudent toassume that similar damage could occur.
Naturally occurring sources of radiation exposean individual in the U.S. to an average of about100 millirem each year, depending primarily onaltitude and the concentration of radioactiveminerals in the ground. For instance, in Floridathe typical radiation dose is about 60 milliremannually, but in Colorado it is about 170 milliremper year.
Radiation from X-rays and other medicaltreatments using radioactive materials adds anaverage of about 90 millirem per year to a person’sexposure.
Living or working in stone buildings, fallout, andconsumer products such as color television andsmoke detectors add about 10 millirem a year.
Nuclear power plants add an average of about1/10 of 1 millirem peryear. Emissions fromcoal- burning powerplants also add about 1millirem to anindividual ’s averageannual exposure.
Radiation exposure to humans is measuredin rems (roentgen equivalent in man), the unit ofmeasure for the biological effect of radiation. Anacute dose of 500 rem will kill half of those exposedwithin a month. A dose of 100 rem may not produceoutward signs of radiation injury. An exposure of10 rem may produce minor blood changes in somepeople. Accidental doses due to the effects of apassing plume are expected to be in the range of10 to 50 millirem (0.010 to 0.050 rem).
Very large amounts of radiation may result incancer and genetic defects. Convincing medicalevidence that radiation increases chances ofdeveloping cancer comes mostly from the fewgroups of people subjected to massive doses ofradiation - pioneers in medical radiology, patientstreated with X-rays and victims of Hiroshima andNagasaki.
Many more people have been studiedextensively over several decades to determine ifthere is a link between radiation and cancer atlower levels of exposure. There has been generallyno effect at exposure below 10 rem.
Relative Health Risks
000473.49
Health RiskAverage Days ofLost Life Expectancy
Smoking 20 Cigarettes a day................................
Overweight by 20%..............................................
All Accidents Combined........................................
Auto accidents.......................................................
Alcohol consumption..........................................
Home accidents.....................................................
Drowning...............................................................
Natural background radiation..............................
Medical diagnostic X-rays.....................................
All catastrophes (earthquakes tornadoes, etc.)...
1 rem occupational radiation dose......................
1 rem/year for 30 years.........................................
2400 (6.5 years)
1000 (2. years)
450 (1.2 years)
200
130
95
40
8
6
3.5
1
30
page 21Glossary
activation: The process of making a materialradioactive by bombarding it with neutrons, protonsor other particles.
acute exposure: An exposure to radiation whichoccurs over a short period of time, usually in lessthan an hour.
air sampling: The collecting and analyzing ofsamples of air to detect the presence of radioactivesubstances.
alpha particle: A positively charged particleemitted by some radioactive materials. Alphaparticles are identical to the nucleus of a heliumatom, consisting of two protons and two neutronsbound together. They are the least penetrating ofthe three common types of radiation (alpha, beta,gamma) and can be stopped by a piece of paper.
americium: There are several isotopes ofamericium, but americium-241 is formed in anuclear reactor. An alpha emitter, americium is aproblem only if it enters the body. It is used insmoke detectors, in the glass industry and inresearch.
argon: Argon is an inert gas which does not reactchemically with other elements. The radioactiveisotope, Ar-41, is one of the inert gases formed ina reactor.
atomic number: The number of protons in thenucleus of an atom; also its positive charge.
background radiation: The level of naturallyoccurring radiation in the environment. Sourcesinclude air, water, soil, potassium-40 in the bodyand cosmic radiation from the sun.
beta particle: A particle emitted from a nucleusduring radioactive decay. Most beta particles canbe stopped by aluminum foil.
body burden: The amount of radioactive materialpresent in the body of a human or animal.
boiling water reactor: A nuclear reactor in whichwater, used both as coolant and moderator, isallowed to boil in the reactor vessel. The resultingsteam is used directly to drive a turbine.
boron: A chemical element with two naturallyoccurring isotopes, one of which efficiently absorbsneutrons. It is used to control nuclear reactors,being put into both control rods and emergencyshutdown systems.
breeder reactor: A nuclear reactor whichproduces or “breeds” more fissionable materialthan it consumes. The reactor is built with a coreof fissionable plutonium-239, surrounded by ablanket of uranium-238. As the plutonium fissions,neutrons bombard the uranium converting theuranium blanket to more plutonium-239.
burnup: A measure of reactor fuel consumption.
chain reaction: A fission chain reaction occurswhen a fissionable nucleus absorbs a neutron andfissions, releasing additional neutrons. These inturn can be absorbed by other fissionable nuclei,releasing more neutrons. A chain reaction isachieved when this process becomes self-sustaining.
chronic exposure: Exposure to small doses ofradiation over an extended period of time.
cladding: The outer jacket of nuclear fuelelements. It prevents corrosion of the fuel and therelease of fission products into the coolant.Aluminum or its alloys, stainless steel andzirconium are common cladding materials.
cobalt-60: A radioactive isotope formed fromnatural cobalt-59 by neutron activation in reactors.It is used for medical and industrial applications.
containment: A gas-tight shell or other enclosurearound a reactor that confines fission products andprevents their release to the environment in anaccident.
Glossary of Nuclear Terms
page 22 Glossary
contamination: A frequently misunderstood term,contamination refers to radioactive materials notin their intended containers. “Fixed” or “loose”contamination depends on the degree of effortrequired to unfix or remove the contamination froma surface.
control rod: A rod containing a material thatreadily absorbs neutrons (such as boron). It is usedto control the power of a nuclear reactor. Byabsorbing neutrons, a control rod slows the fissionchain reaction by preventing neutrons fromcausing further fission.
coolant: A substance, usually water, circulatedthrough a nuclear reactor to remove or transferheat.
core: The grouping of fuel assemblies in thecentral part of the reactor pressure vessel.
critical: Able to sustain a nuclear reaction at aconstant level.
critical mass: The mass of fissionable materialneeded to support a self-sustaining chain reaction.
curie: The basic unit to describe the intensity ofradioactivity in a sample of material. One curie isequal to 37 billion disintegrations per second. Soin one curie, 37 billion atoms decay in one second.Several commonly used fractions of the curieinclude:Millicurie: 1/1000th of a curieMicrocurie: 1/11,000,000 of a curieNanocurie: 1/1,000,000,000 of a curiePicocurie: 1/11,000,000 of a microcurie
daughter: See decay product.
decay, radioactive: The spontaneous radioactivetransformation of an unstable nuclide by emissionof charged particles.
decay heat: The heat produced by the decay ofradioactive nuclides. Decay heat is released in areactor following shutdown.
decay product: A nuclide, either stable orradioactive, resulting from the radioactivedisintegration of a radionuclide.
decontamination: The removal of radioactivecontaminants from surfaces or equipment bycleaning and washing with chemicals.
design basis accident: The most serious reactoraccident that can reasonably be imagined fromany combination of equipment malfunction,operating errors and other causes. The term isused to analyze the safety characteristics of areactor. Nuclear power plants are designed toprotect the public from the effects of an accident.
dose: The total amount of radiation energyabsorbed in a material.
dose rate: The radiation dose delivered per unittime and measured; for instance, in rems per hour.
dosimeter: A device that measures radiationdose, such as a film badge.
early warning system: A system designed toalert residents and transients within specific areasof the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone withsirens and tone-activated radios.
electron: A stable, negatively charged elementaryparticle of matter. Electrons orbit the positivelycharged nucleus of the atom.
Emergency Decontamination Facility (EDC):A Department of Energy facility adjacent to KadlecHospital in Richland. The facility is used to treatpersons highly contaminated in a radiologicalaccident.
emergency director: Responsible for overallmanagement of Energy Northwest resourcesduring an accident and plant-recovery activitiesfollowing an accident. The Emergency Directoroperates from the Emergency Operations Facility.
Glossary page 23
Emergency Operations Facility: A shielded areaof the Plant Support Facility, which is located aboutthree-quarters of a mile from Columbia GeneratingStation.
emergency planning zone, 50 mile: A zonearound the plant in which planning for protectiveactions by the public is based on possible ingestionof contaminated water or food. Protective actionsmay include removing dairy cows fromcontaminated pastures or discontinuing use of riverirrigation water.
emergency planning zone, Ten mile: A zonearound the plant in which planning for protectiveaction by the public is based on exposure to orinhaling radioactive materials from a passingplume released during an accident. Protectiveactions may include evacuation and sheltering.
enriched material: Material in which thepercentage of a given isotope has been artificiallyincreased. Enriched uranium contains more of thefissionable isotope uranium-235 than is found innaturally occurring uranium.
exclusion area: The area up to 1.2 miles fromColumbia Generating Station.
exposure: A measure of radiation dose receivedby a person, usually broken down and used to referto whole-body exposure compared with exposureto the hands only.
fissile material: Usually used as a synonym forfissionable material.
fission: The splitting of an atomic nucleus intotwo approximately equal parts accompanied by therelease of large amounts of energy and one ormore neutrons.
fission products: The nuclei formed by thefission of heavy elements.
fissionable material: Used in reactor operationsto mean fuel, this term includes materials that canbe fissioned by neutrons, such as uranium-235and plutonium-239.
food chain: The pathway of any material throughthe environment to edible plants, animals andultimately to man.
fuel cycle: The series of steps involved insupplying fuel for nuclear power reactors. Itincludes mining, fabrication of fuel elements andassemblies, their use in a reactor, reprocessingspent fuel and refabrication into new fuel elements.
fuel element: A rod or other form into whichnuclear fuel is fabricated for use in a nuclearreactor.
fusion: The formation of a heavier nucleus fromtwo lighter ones, with the release of energy.
gamma rays: The most penetrating of the threetypes of ionizing radiation, gamma rays areelectromagnetic radiation–like light, radio wavesand microwaves. Similar to X-rays, they have nomass, they are only energy. Gamma rays are beststopped or shielded against by dense materialssuch as concrete or lead.
half-life: The time required for half of the atomsof a particular radioactive substance todisintegrate. Half-lives vary from millionths of asecond to billions of years.
Hanford Reservation: A federally-ownedreservation under the control of the Departmentof Energy. The reservation covers 570 squaremiles to the north of Richland.
health physics: The science of recognizing,evaluating and controlling health hazards fromionizing radiation.
page 24 Glossary
high-level waste: No longer useful materials fromnuclear operations which have radioactivityconcentrations of hundreds to thousands of curiesper gallon or cubic foot.
inert gases: Gases which do not react with otherelements. Radioactive gases formed in nuclear-fission reactors include neon, xenon, argon andkrypton. If released, they are hard to filter out andcollect, but if inhaled they do not interact withanything in the lungs. These gases produce anexposure hazard to someone standing in theradioactive cloud.
iodine: Only one stable isotope exists, the restare radioactive and artificially created. The mostcommon, iodine-131 and iodine-125, are used formedical treatment of the thyroid gland and inresearch. Radioactive iodine is significant due toits tendency to concentrate in the thyroid gland.
ion: An atom or molecule with a negative orpositive electrical charge.
ionization: The process of adding or removingelectrons from atoms or molecules, therebycreating ions. Ionization can be caused by hightemperatures, electrical discharges or radiation.
ionizing radiation: Any radiation which displaceselectrons from atoms or molecules, therebyproducing ions. Alpha, beta and gamma radiationare examples. Ionizing radiation may damage skinand tissue.
isotope: Atoms of the same chemical element(atomic number) but with differing numbers ofneutrons. Having varying numbers of neutrons cancause some isotopes to be radioactive.
low-level waste: Wastes containing types andconcentrations of radioactivity that require little orno shielding to minimize personnel exposure.
moderator: Material, such as graphite or water,used to slow down high-velocity neutrons released
in a fission reaction and increase their chances ofbeing absorbed by a uranium atom and causingmore fissions.
neutron: An uncharged particle found in thenucleus of every atom heavier than hydrogen.Neutrons sustain the fission chain reaction in areactor.
nondestructive testing: Testing to detect internaland concealed defects in materials usingtechniques, such as X-rays and ultrasonics, thatdo not damage the items being tested.
nucleus: The dense, central, positively chargedcore of an atom. All nuclei contain protons andneutrons except the nucleus of hydrogen, whichhas a single proton.
plume: A cloud of radioactive materials that canbe emitted from a nuclear reactor in an accident.This cloud is not visible to the eye, but can bemeasured, or “seen” with radiation measurementequipment.
plutonium: Plutonium-239, with a half-life of24,360 years, is the most important isotope of thisradioactive, metallic element. It is formed inreactors from natural uranium and is used as fuelin some nuclear reactors. Being an alpha emitter,it is only a health problem if inhaled or swallowed.It localizes in the bone and lungs and can remainthere indefinitely.
potassium-40: A naturally occurring radioactiveisotope of potassium. It is a beta and gammaemitter and has an exceedingly long half-life. Theaverage person receives about 20 millirems a yearfrom the potassium-40 in his/her body.
pressurized water reactor: A reactor in whichheat is transferred from the core to a heatexchanger by water kept under high pressure. Theprimary system is pressurized to allow the waterto reach high temperatures without boiling. Steamis generated in a secondary circuit.
page 25Glossary
pressure vessel: A strong-walled containerhousing the core of most types of power reactors.
primary coolant: Water used to cool and carryheat away from the core of a pressurized waterreactor. Heat is transferred from the primarycoolant to a secondary loop using a heatexchanger, producing steam to drive the turbine.
protective action guides: Radiation dose levelsthat are trigger points for initiating protectiveactions such as sheltering or evacuation.
proton: Positively charged particles that, alongwith neutrons, are the prime components of atomicnuclei. The atomic number of an atom is equal tothe number of protons in its nucleus.
rad: Acronym for radiation absorbed dose. Thebasic unit of absorbed dose of ionizing radiation.(See Rem below.)
radioactivity: The spontaneous decay ordisintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus,usually accompanied by the emission of ionizingradiation.
radioisotope: A radioactive isotope.
Rem: A unit of radiation dose relating to thebiological effect or risk from radiation. (See rad.)
roentgen: A unit for measuring the amount ofradiation energy imparted to a volume of air. Theroentgen can be used only to measure X-rays orgamma rays.
scram: The sudden shutdown of a nuclearreactor, usually by rapid insertion of the controlrods. Emergencies or deviations from normalreactor operation cause the reactor toautomatically scram.
shielding: Material such as lead, water, orconcrete that, when placed between a radiationsource and people or equipment, providesprotection by absorbing the radiation.
special nuclear material: By law, includesplutonium, uranium-233, and uranium containingmore than the natural concentration of uranium-235. Holders of special nuclear material must belicensed and have specific plans and procedures.
spent fuel: Nuclear reactor fuel that has beenirradiated to the extent that it can no longereffectively sustain a chain reaction.
strontium: Four naturally stable and 12 unstableisotopes exist. The most common unstable isotopeis strontium-90, a product of nuclear fallout with ahalf-life of 28 years. It is a high-energy beta sourceand can be used as an energy source for satellites,remote weather stations and navigation buoys.Strontium is a biological hazard because it tendsto concentrate in bones.
TLD: Thermoluminescent dosimeters used tomeasure an individual’s level of radiation exposure.transuranic elements: All elements aboveuranium on the periodic table-those with an atomicnumber greater than 92. All transuranics areproduced artificially and are radioactive.
tritium: The one radioactive isotope of hydrogen.A small percentage of natural hydrogen is tritium,but the primary source of tritium is nuclear reactors.It has a half-life of 12 years, but will remain in thebody only a few days if taken internally. It is notconsidered a major health hazard since it is a veryweak beta emitter and not harmful unlessconsumed in very large quantities.
uranium: There are two primary isotopes:Uranium-238, which accounts for 99 percent of alluranium; and uranium-235, the fissionable isotopewhich sustains the fission reaction in a nuclearreactor.
whole body counter: A device used to identifyand measure radioactive material in the body.
x-ray: A penetrating form of electromagnetic ra-diation which is used in medical and industrialapplication.
page 26 Index
IndexAlert, 2Alpha particles, 19Background radiation, 19Balance of plant systems, 12Benton County Emergency Operations Center, 4Beta radiation, 20Boiling water reactor (BWR) description, 7, 8Cancer, 20Circulating water pumphouse, 15Circulating water system, 12Control rod drive, 11Cooling towers, 15Department of Energy (DOE), 4Design redundancy, 14Diesel generator building, 15Emergency core cooling system (ECCS), 14Emergency Operations Facility (EOF), 6Emergency Planning Zone, 50-mile, 3, 5Emergency Planning Zone, 10-mile, 3, 4Federal Emergency Management Agency 3,
(FEMA)Fuel assembly, 10, 11, 17Gamma rays, 19General Emergency, 2Genetic defects, 20Heredity, 20High pressure core spray, 14Ionizing radiation, 19Joint Information Center, 6Low-pressure coolant injection, 14
Low-pressure core spray, 14Media briefings, 6Media work space, 6Millirems, 19, 20Multiple barrier concept, 13Nuclear fission chain reaction, 7Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 1Nuclear steam supply system, 11Plant Support Facility, 6Plant systems, 10, 11, 12, 14Potassium iodide, 5Radiation effects, biological, 20Radiation effects, long term, 20Radiation exposure, perspective, 20Radioactive iodine, 5Radioactive plume, 5Radwaste building, 15Reactor building, 11Reactor recirculation pumps, 11Reactor vessel, 8-11, 13, 14, 17Rems, 19, 20Residual heat removal, 14Site Area Emergency, 2Spray ponds, 15Telephone response team, 6Turbine building, 12, 15, 16Unusual Event, 2X-rays, 19, 20Yakima building, 15
Energy Northwest3000 George Washington WayRichland, Washington 99352(509)372-5000
For more information contact:Communications & Industry Affairs(509)372-5659
020102
