Statistical study of low-level radioactive waste generated by US nuclear power plants from 1973 to 1981

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5611974

Naretto, C J; Semler, T T; Everette, S E; Levin, G B

The amount of low-level radioactive waste generated in the US is of concern to those involved with and responsible for radioactive waste management and policy formulation. One of the largest sources of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) in the US is the commercial nuclear power reactor. In previous studies it has been conjectured that boiling water reactors (BWRs) and pressurized water reactors (PWRs) produce constant but differing amounts of LLW per megawatt-electric of rated power. The present study is based on the historic amounts of LLW shipped yearly from commercial BWRs and PWRs, as recorded in the National Low Level Radioactive Waste Data Base System, and thus is truly representative of LLW generation characteristics. The results of linear time series regression analysis of the LLW generation rates were examined to determine the adequacy of this simple model and to determine trends in LLW generation with respect to time. According to this analysis, LLW generation per megawatt-electric tends to increase as a function of time after startup for both BWRs and PWRs. While the linear model was often quite good for individual nuclear reactors or nuclear reactor stations, it could not account for the cyclic behavior and spiking that were often noted in the actual yearly LLW generation rates. For a PWR, the rate of LLW volume generated, in cubic meters per year per megawatt-electric (rated), was best approximated by 0.27 + 0.071 x years from startup. For a BWR, the LLW volume in cubic meters per year per megawatt electric (rated) is estimated by 1.25 + 0.066 x years from startup. Suggestions are made for model improvements and various other reactor groupings are investigated.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5611974
• Report Number(s): EGG-2273; ON: DE84002297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220502* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Radioactive Effluents
BWR TYPE REACTORS
DATA
INFORMATION
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
PRODUCTION
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTORS
STATISTICAL DATA
WASTES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS