Reprocessing Facilities - hdbk1132990047

DOE-HDBK-1132-99

Air should flow from areas of lower contamination to areas of higher

contamination and areas of higher potential airborne contamination should be

kept less than atmospheric pressure.

1.2.5

Reprocessing Facilities. The following provisions are typical for a

reprocessing facility confinement system. Actual confinement system

requirements for a specific reprocessing system should be determined on a

case-by-case basis.

The degree of confinement required in various locations of the facility depends

on the potential hazards associated with the process being carried out and is

generally based on the most restrictive case anticipated. Design should

consider the characteristics of the hazardous material involved, such as type,

quantities, forms (physical and chemical), dispersibility, and energy available for

In general, for the most restrictive case anticipated, the use of three

confinement systems should be considered. In reprocessing facilities where

processes require the use of corrosive or noxious materials, the process system

should be totally enclosed and provided with its own ventilation system and off-

gas cleanup system. In such cases, the process system should be treated as

the primary confinement system. Secondary confinement should consist of the

process cells and their ventilation system. Tertiary or final confinement should

be the building structure and its ventilation system. In addition to these

confinement systems, such features as change rooms and special access ways

should be used to minimize the spread of contamination within the facility.

If heat transfer systems are used that provide circulation between radioactive

and nonradioactive areas, barriers to release due to contamination of the heat

transfer fluids should be considered. Typically, confinement would be provided

through the use of intermediate heat exchangers and the use of a " losed-loop"

system. A leak monitoring system should be considered.

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