Radionuclide calculation in the core components of Indonesia’s Triga 2000 reactor: Focus on tritium (H3) and its effect on decommissioning

This paper provides estimations of the radionuclides created within the core components of the TRIGA 2000 Bandung reactor. This research is essential for the revision of decommissioning programs and forecasting the quantity and activity levels of radioactive wastes. This study predominantly focused on the tritium radionuclide within the reactor core. MCNP 6.1 was employed to determine the neutron flux during the reactor operation, while ORIGEN2.1 was utilized to identify the radionuclides produced as a result of neutron activation. The calculations extend across a nineteen-year, with 2020 as the base year. The modelling is focused on the calculation of the water components of the reactor pool. The findings suggest that Tritium is not the dominant isotope among all components from weight, with mass percentages almost zero but among the radionuclides, Tritium demonstrates a high level of activation and the highest level of radioactivity, ranging from 12% to 13% in the first year and declining over nineteen years as a result of radioactive decay. By the nineteenth year, a significant decrease in radioactivity was noted. Decommissioning nuclear facilities necessitates a comprehensive approach that considers factors such as cost, risk, potential environmental impacts, human safety, regulatory compliance, and the selected technical strategy.