title: Production and release rate of37Ar from the UT TRIGA Mark-II research reactor.
abstract: Air samples were taken at various locations around The University of Texas at Austin's TRIGA Mark II research reactor and analyzed to determine the concentrations of37Ar,41Ar, and133Xe present. The measured ratio of37Ar/41Ar and historical records of41Ar releases were then utilized to estimate an annual average release rate of37Ar from the reactor facility. Using the calculated release rate, atmospheric transport modeling was performed in order to determine the potential impact of research reactor operations on nearby treaty verification activities. Results suggest that small research reactors (∼1 MWt) do not release37Ar in concentrations measurable by currently proposed OSI detection equipment.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Bldg. 159, Austin, TX 78758, USA. Electronic address: christine.johnson@utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Bldg. 159, Austin, TX 78758, USA.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Biegalski
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Bldg. 159, Austin, TX 78758, USA.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Artnak
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Bldg. 159, Austin, TX 78758, USA.
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd, Bldg. 159, Austin, TX 78758, USA; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Derek A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lowrey
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Craig E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Aalseth
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Emily K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Humble
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon / Q000032:analysis*; D009688:Nuclear Reactors; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D012106:Research
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D001128:Argon
keywords: (37)Ar; CTBT; Effluent monitoring; On-site inspection; TRIGA research reactor; Treaty monitoring