This system maintains a constant maximum ambient temperature of 140° F.
and a maximum relative humidity of 72 percent inside the containment
shell. The system operates in conjunction with the intermediate cooling
water system, using 95° F. water.
During normal operation, the containment shell is sealed and no outside
air will enter or leave the vessel. Ambient conditions will be
maintained by regulating the cooling water flow as required according to
instrument readings on the control panel.
In all areas where crew members have unlimited access, radiation levels
will be less than 5 rem integrated dosage per year, the recommended
maximum annual exposure of workers in the atomic energy field. Assuming
that passengers would move about the ship, and on the basis of their
calculated average distance from the reactor, the average exposure of a
passenger remaining aboard for a year would be under 0.5 rem, i.e. ¹/₂₀
of the occupational value.
The 5 rem area is relatively small and not in general use. No crew
member will be aboard ship or in the 5 rem area continuously for a full
year, and it is doubtful that any crew member will actually receive an
integrated dose of more than 0.5 rem in a year.