Characteristics of Radioactive Effluent Releases from Pressurized Water Reactors after Permanent Shutdown

Ji Su Kang and Jae Hak Cheong
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Ji Su Kang: Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deokyoung-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea
Jae Hak Cheong: Department of Nuclear Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deokyoung-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 17104, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-24

Abstract: In order to expand our understanding of the characteristics of radioactive effluent from nuclear power plants under decommissioning, which have not been systematically investigated, a series of source term models of radioactive effluent after permanent shutdown has been established based upon theoretical reasoning on the design and operation features of plants and derived in terms of fifteen arguments. Comprehensive radioactive effluent data have been collected and profiled from twenty-eight decommissioning pressurized water reactors, and annual trends of effluent from each plant have been quantitatively analyzed using Mann-Kendall statistical test. In addition, the characteristics of collected effluent data have been qualitatively interpreted based upon arguments newly proposed in this study. Furthermore, potential decreasing of dilution factor for liquid effluent and its safety implications are identified. The source term models and verified characteristics of radioactive effluent after permanent shutdown developed in this study can be used for establishing more efficient discharge monitoring program for decommissioning authorization.

Keywords: nuclear power plant; permanent shutdown; radioactive effluent; decommissioning; Mann-Kendall trend test; source term model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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