Analytical approximations for the long-term decay behavior of spent fuel and high-level waste

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6890212

Malbrain, C M; Deutch, J M; Lester, R K

Simple analytical approximations are presented that describe the radioactivity and radiogenic decay heat behavior of high-level wastes (HLWs) from various nuclear fuel cycles during the first 100,000 years of waste life. The correlations are based on detailed computations of HLW properties carried out with the isotope generation and depletion code ORIGEN 2. The ambiguities encountered in using simple comparisons of the hazards posed by HLWs and naturally occurring mineral deposits to establish the longevity requirements for geologic waste disposal schemes are discussed.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Engineering, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
• OSTI ID: 6890212
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 57:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
AFTER-HEAT
RADIATION HAZARDS
SPENT FUELS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CORRELATIONS
DECAY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
ISOTOPE RATIO
LIFETIME
MINERALS
NATURAL OCCURRENCE
O CODES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIOISOTOPE GENERATORS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
WASTE-ROCK INTERACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
REACTOR MATERIALS
SIMULATION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety