While touring pressurized water reactors, visitors are often granted access to the steam turbine generator halls during operation. However, the same accessibility is not granted for boiling water reactors on account of very high dose rates near the turbine (a nearby germanium detector reveals a 6.1 MeV gamma ray). When the BWR is powered down, the dose rate almost immediately drops to background. Explain this radioactivity using nuclear reactions and power plant operations

Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
10th Edition
ISBN:9781337399074
Author:John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Publisher:John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Chapter25: Nuclear Chemistry
Section: Chapter Questions
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While touring pressurized water reactors, visitors are often granted access to the steam turbine generator halls during operation. However, the same accessibility is not granted for boiling water reactors on account of very high dose rates near the turbine (a nearby germanium detector reveals a 6.1 MeV gamma ray). When the BWR is powered down, the dose rate almost immediately drops to background. Explain this radioactivity using nuclear reactions and power plant operations

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