Time-Dependent Safety Analysis of Spent Nuclear Fuel: An MCNPX- MATLAB Framework Linking Isotopic Predictions to Phase-Dominant Contributions in Decay Heat and Radioactivity

• 발행기관: 한국방사성폐기물학회
• 저자명: Essam Banoqitah Amir Alramady Marwan Alkhathami Faisal Alzahrani Sherif Nafee Nader Mohamed
• 간행물 정보: 『Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology (JNFCWT)』Vol.23 No.3, 303~314쪽, 전체 12쪽
• 주제분류: 공학 > 공학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.09.30

국문 초록

This study integrates MCNPX and MATLAB to analyze decay heat and radioactivity evolution in spent nuclear fuel (SNF) over 10¹⁰ seconds. MCNPX models burnup-dependent isotopic inventories, while MATLAB solves Bateman equations for decay analysis. Six phases, defined by dominant isotopes, dictate safety protocols. For decay heat, the short-term phase ( 140La, 239Np, 144Pr) requires active cooling; intermediate (144Pr, 106Rh, 95Nb, 95Zr) permits passive dry cask storage; and long-term (137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, 241Pu) necessitates geological repositories. Radioactivity evolves through three phases: immediate with high gamma emitters (95Nb, 144Ce, 144Pr, 95Zr) demanding shielding; intermediate dominated by 137Cs, 241Pu, 90Sr, risking cask integrity; and long-term radiotoxicity from 137Cs, 90Sr, 241Am, 241Pu, requiring geological confinement. These temporal transitions highlight phase-specific risks: short-term strategies prioritize active cooling and shielding, while long-term solutions focus on multi-barrier isolation. The study provides a roadmap for optimizing cooling systems, shielding designs, and repository architectures to mitigate risks across the SNF lifecycle. By mapping isotopic contributions over time, the framework supports balanced technical-regulatory decisions, enhancing safety from reactor discharge to permanent disposal.

목차

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Results and Discussion

4. Conclusion

Conflict of Interest

REFERENCES

키워드

Spent nuclear fuel Decay heat Fuel composition Spent fuel radioactivity