Injection of Air:

Injection of small and huge amounts of air within the reactor coolant system was previously analyzed. While enough oxygen is added to deplete the hydrogen inventory, acidic pH results in those facilities whereas high (basic) pH is managed.  That reduction in pH is accompanied through secondary effects to the coolant. The decreased pH causes a change within solubility of the corrosion film on facility materials and results in elements of this film being released for transport by the coolant system. That release, or crud burst, is detected through an increase within radiation levels of the coolant, raised conductivity, and lowering of the ion exchanger efficiency.  Radiation levels increase since corrosion products which had been attached to core surfaces and were highly activated through the neutron flux are transported to other elements of the system.

Conductivity increases since several of the corrosion products are released in an ionic or radical form and are capable of conducting electricity.  In the previous levels of the introduction of air, conductivity might exhibit erratic behavior because of the relationship of conductivity and pH. As pH starts to fall, conductivity tends to follow, other than the presence of suspended corrosion products offsets the theoretical conductivity.  The resultant increase is dependent upon the concentration of corrosion products.  Further, should pH fall below about 7, conductivity increases as pH is additional decreased.