A high energy electron linear accelerator (LINAC) is capable of generating intense bremsstrahlung that approximates the gamma dose rate in the core of a boiling water nuclear reactor (BWR). Experiments with radiation hardened platinum, pH and silver/silver chloride electrodes at BWR operating temperatures in a stainless steel autoclave showed reversible, stable voltage offsets that depended on water chemistry and radiation intensity. These changes occurred slowly, and the potentials required several minutes to attain a steady state. Even with a remote reference, it is not possible to determine unequivocally the magnitude and direction of the shift for a specific electrode, but these measurements are most consistent with substantial (100 mV) offsets for silver/silver chloride electrodes, and relatively stable operation for zirconia-membrane pH electrodes. Radiation had no significant effect on high-temperature conductivity. Chemical interactions with radiolytic species offer the simplest explanation for the transitions.

Subject
Equilibrium potential, Water, Piping, Voltage, Boiling water reactors, Probes, Autoclaves, Water chemistry, Constants, Electrodes, Corrosion potential, Conductivity, Electrode potential
Keywords:
autoclave, bremsstrahlung, BWR, conductivity, corrosion potential, dosimetry, LINAC, pH, radiolysis, reference electrode
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1990
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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