Determination of a representative composition of dry active waste from Korean nuclear power plants

As part of the following-up action pertaining to the construction and operation permit for the first stage of the LILW (Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste) repository, the preparation for a large-scale in situ experiment is underway by the Korea Radioactive Waste Management Corporation (KRMC) for a realistic assessment of the characteristics of gas generation after the post-closure phase of a repository. In this paper, we discuss a method of determining the representative composition of simulated dry active waste and a related fabrication plan for this material. After a comparison with experimental gas generation results from Finland, dry active waste content was chosen for a large-scale gas generation experiment. Six different types of materials and details on their simulated dry active waste contents are derived with the total mass and density for both a 200 L and a 320 L drum.

► We determine representative composition of Korean dry active waste.
► We review radioactive waste composition in Korean nuclear power plants.
► Representative DAW composition helps radioactive waste management.
► Gas generation after disposal depends on DAW composition.