Iodine Chemical Forms in LWR Severe Accidents (NUREG/CR-5732)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: January 1992
Date Published: April 1992

Prepared by:
E. C. Beahm, C. F. Weber, T. S. Kress, G. W. Parker

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6285

Prepared for:
Division of Systems Research
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC FIN B0854

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Abstract

Calculated data from seven severe accident sequences in light water reactor plants were used to assess the chemical forms of iodine in containment. In most of the calculations for the seven sequences, iodine entering containment from the reactor coolant system was almost entirely in the form of CsI with very small contributions of I or HI. The largest fraction of iodine in forms other than CsI was a total of 3.2% as I plus HI. Within the containment, the CsI will deposit onto walls and other surfaces, as well as in water pools, largely in the form of iodide (I). The radiation-induced conversion of F in water pools into 1₂ is strongly dependent on pH. In systems where the pH was controlled above 7, little additional elemental iodine would be produced in the containment atmosphere. When the pH falls below 7, however, it may be assumed that it is not being controlled and large fractions of iodine as 1₂ within the containment atmosphere may be produced.