Standard Practice for Calculation of Dose Equivalent Xenon (DEX) for Radioactive Xenon Fission Products in Reactor Coolant

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Each power reactor has a specific DEX value that is their technical requirement limit. These values may vary from about 200 to about 900 μCi/g based upon the height of their plant vent the location of the site boundary, the calculated reactor coolant activity for a condition of 1 % fuel defects, and general atmospheric modeling that is ascribed to that particular plant site. Should the DEX measured activity exceed the technical requirement limit the plant enters an LCO requiring action on plant operation by the operators.  
5.2 The determination of DEX is performed in a similar manner to that used in determining DEI, except that the calculation of DEX is based on the acute dose to the whole body and considers the noble gases 85mKr, 85Kr, 87Kr, 88Kr, 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, 135mXe, 135Xe, and 138Xe which are significant in terms of contribution to whole body dose.  
5.3 It is important to note that only fission gases are included in this calculation, and only the ones noted in Table 1. For example 83mKr is not included even though its half life is 1.86 hours. The reason for this is that this radionuclide cannot be easily determined by gamma spectrometry (low energy X-rays at 32 and 9 keV) and its dose consequence is vanishingly small compared to the other, more prevalent krypton radionuclides.
5.4 Activity from 41Ar, 19F, 16N, and 11C, all of which predominantly will be in gaseous forms in the RCS, are not included in this calculation.  
5.5 If a specific noble-gas radionuclide is not detected, it should be assumed to be present at the minimum-detectable activity. The determination of DOSE-EQUIVALENT XE-133 shall be performed using effective dose-conversion factors for air submersion listed in Table III.1 of EPA Federal Guidance Report No. 12 (1),2 or the average gamma-disintegration energies as provided in ICRP Publication 38 (“Radionuclide Transformations”) or similar source.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice applies to the calculation of the dose equivalent to 133Xe in the reactor coolant of nuclear power reactors resulting from the radioactivity of all noble gas fission products.  
1.2 The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units, which are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

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Publication Date
14-May-2011
Technical Committee
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Ref Project

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ASTM D7727-11e1 - Standard Practice for Calculation of Dose Equivalent Xenon (DEX) for Radioactive Xenon Fission Products in Reactor Coolant
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
´1
Designation: D7727 − 11
StandardPractice for
Calculation of Dose Equivalent Xenon (DEX) for Radioactive
1
Xenon Fission Products in Reactor Coolant
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7727; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Editorial corrections made throughout in March 2014.
1. Scope through agreement with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion (U.S. NRC).The definition as approved for each utility by
1.1 This practice applies to the calculation of the dose
133 the U.S. NRC is the one that should be applied to the
equivalent to Xe in the reactor coolant of nuclear power
calculations in this practice.
reactors resulting from the radioactivity of all noble gas fission
products.
4. Summary of Practice
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
4.1 A sample of fresh reactor coolant is analyzed for noble
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
gas activities using gamma ray spectrometry. The individual
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
activity of each detectable radioactive fission gas is divided by
and are not considered standard.
133
a factor that normalizes its dose to that of Xe. This practice
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
is to replace the previous practice of calculating the reactor
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
coolant Ē calculation when allowed by the plant’s revised
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
technical specifications. The quantity DEX is acceptable from
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
a radiological dose perspective since it will result in a limiting
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
condition of operation (LCO) that more closely relates the
non-iodine RCS activity limits to the dose consequence analy-
2. Referenced Documents
ses which form their bases.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—It is incumbent on the licensee to ensure that the dose
D3648 Practices for the Measurement of Radioactivity
conversion factors (DCFs) used in the determination of DEX are consis-
D7282 Practice for Set-up, Calibration, and Quality Control
tent with the DCFs used in the applicable dose consequence analysis used
of Instruments Used for Radioactivity Measurements
by the plant in their dose calculation manual for radioactive releases.
3. Terminology
5. Significance and Use
3.1 Definitions:
5.1 Each power reactor has a specific DEX value that is
3.1.1 DOSE-EQUIVALENT XE-133 (DEX), n—shall be that
their technical requirement limit. These values may vary from
133
Xe concentration (microcuries per gram) that alone would
about 200 to about 900 µCi/g based upon the height of their
produce the same acute dose to the whole body as the
plant vent the location of the site boundary, the calculated
85m 85 87
combined activities of noble-gas nuclides Kr, Kr, Kr,
reactor coolant activity for a condition of 1 % fuel defects, and
88 131m 133m 133 135m 135 138
Kr, Xe, Xe, Xe, Xe, Xe,and Xeactually
general atmospheric modeling that is ascribed to that particular
present.
plant site. Should the DEX measured activity exceed the
technical requirement limit the plant enters an LCO requiring
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This is the general definition of DEX.
action on plant operation by the operators.
Each utility may have adopted modifications to this definition
5.2 The determination of DEX is performed in a similar
1
manner to that used in determining DEI, except that the
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D19 on Water and
is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D19.04 on Methods of Radiochemical
calculation of DEX is based on the acute dose to the whole
Analysis. 85m 85 87 88
body and considers the noble gases Kr, Kr, Kr, Kr,
Current edition approved May 15, 2011. Published June 2011. DOI: 10.1520/
131m 133m 133 135m 135 138
Xe, Xe, Xe, Xe, Xe, and Xe which are
D7727-11E01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or significant in terms of contribution to whole body dose.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
5.3 It is important to note that only fission gases are
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. included in this calculation, and only the ones noted in Table 1.
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D7727 − 11
TABLE 1 T
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