Assessment of activity resources by nomenclature of main radiation-hazardous radionuclides during the long-term management of spent nuclear fuel of the Belarusian NPP

Abstract

<jats:p>The purpose of the study is calculation research of the radiation characteristics of fission products and actinides at different phases of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) management of the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The study is aimed at the scientific support of the government decision as determined by the “On approval of the spent nuclear fuel management Strategy of the Belarusian nuclear power plant”. А probabilistic forecasting model and an effective code CUB for the spent nuclear fuel radioactivity inventory assessment were developed by the authors. Radionuclides activities as function of nuclear fuel burnup for nuclear fuel with the initial enrichment on the <jats:sup>235</jats:sup>U equals to 4.81 % on the base of approximation relations of Regulation RB-093-14 (Moskow, 2014) have been calculated. Basic relations between specific activities of the main hazardous fission products and actinide, the SNF burnup and initial degree of fuel enrichment were analyzed. The rates of decrease of individual and total fission products and actinides activities of the Units №1 and 2 of the Belarusian NPP were obtained depending on the specific phase of spent SNF management. The results are of value for decision-making on ecology acceptable SNF management option introduced by Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategy of the Belarusian NPP.</jats:p>