Water flows inside the Sarcophagus

The upper limiting values are estimated for the amount of the moisture ente ring the most dangerous rooms in Block B and the reactor department auxilia ry systems (RDASs) of the Sarcophagus due to atmospheric precipitations (19 50 m(3) per annum), condensation in the spring-summer period (1650 m(3) per annum), and from technogenic sources (180 m(3) per annum). It is shown tha t moisture escapes the Sarcophagus by evaporation in the autumn-winter (Sep tember-April) period (2100 m(3) per annum) and by spontaneous leakages. Usi ng the tracer method, the main water flows inside the Sarcophagus are deter mined, as well as the dynamics of the "block" water leakage from the northe rn section of the Fourth Block. Experiments showed that spontaneous leakage from room no. 001/3 of the RDASs of the Fourth Block are responsible for n o less than 1000 m(3) per annum of high-level "block" waters entering the d rainage system of the Third Block.