During extended power uprate in PWR steam generator channel head RCA, vibration erodes thermal spray tungsten carbide coatings, embedding W-188/Re-188 betas. RWP for head entry mandates flood-up.
Which flood-up parameters and survey adjustments ensure accurate coating eval?
A. Flood to 10 ft water cover (density 1.0 g/cm³), build-up factor 1.2 for Re-188 (1.96 MeV beta), survey with underwater GM at 1 ft standoff, correction μ_water=0.15 cm ⁻ ¹.
B. RWP dose budget: Adjust for attenuation e^(-μd), d=30 cm, μ=0.2 cm ⁻ ¹ gamma equiv, capping at 300 mrem with two-person 15-min limit.
C. Decon: Ultrasonic horn (20 kHz, 50 W) in situ, 5 min cycle, remove >80% via turbidity meter (<10 NTU post), swipe for Re-188 LSC MDA 100 dpm.
D. Robotic survey: AUV with side-scan sonar + beta array, path 0.3 m/s, data fusion Kalman filter for
noise <5%, export to RWP VR model.
Explanation:
Uprate vibrations mobilize W-188 (half-life 69 days, Re daughter 17 hr) per EPRI TR-108996, flood-up attenuates betas/gammas per exponential law, GM corrected for geometry. Budget uses build-up for scattered photons in head. Ultrasonic decon dislodges without damage, turbidity for solids; AUV fusion enhances precision but supports modeling.