Numerical Simulation of Influence of Hydrogen Peroxide Photolysis on Water Chemistry in BWR Plant

Abstract

As a novel technique to enhance the effect of H² addition for HWC (hydrogen water chemistry) in BWR coolant, UV light photolysis of H²O² was proposed. The effect of the H²O² photolysis on water radiolysis was simulated for a batch system at 288°C. It was demonstrated that this technique reduced the concentrations of H²O² and O² with less amount of H² than that under ordinary HWC condition. It was found that the technique can reduce the H²O² concentration even in the absence of H² addition although the OH concentration increases concomitantly. The radiation chemical mechanism under ordinary HWC condition is discussed briefly. The UV laser power required to reduce concentrations of the oxidizing species was estimated for a dose rate of †-ray 100Gy-s^-1 based on the simulated results. A potential role of the Cherenkov radiation in H²O² decomposition in coolant of a BWR plant was pointed out.

KEYWORDS:

• hydrogen peroxide
• photolysis
• simulation
• Boiling water reator
• coolant
• decomposition
• hydrogen water chemistry hydrogen addition