Estimation of Decay Heat in Ghana Research Reactor-1 Auxiliary Components Using ORIGEN-S: A Case Study

Abstract

The high-enriched-uranium core of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 has been removed and replaced by low-enriched-uranium fuel. Some components of the reactor that were not transported to China as part of the Chinese take-back program will be managed and stored in Ghana. The amount of decay heat and activity in these components were estimated using the ORIGEN-S code in order to select the best waste management option and to protect the personnel that will handle these components. The results obtained showed relatively low decay heat and activity in the reactor components that were considered in this study.