Application of cause-and-effect relationships on support strategic decision-making in radioactive waste management in Ukraine

Abstract

The accumulation and storage of large-scale radioactive waste (RAW) in Ukraine poses a serious threat to the environment. Approximately 2500 tons of nuclear fuel waste was generated during the operation of the RVPK-1000 reactors. About 2800 tons of RW are materials containing nuclear fuel, including reactor graphite, fuel dust, etc. Objectives: The study is aimed at finding the most rational processes for managing accumulated and newly generated radioactive waste. Methods: To resolve complex, poorly formalized problems, system analysis provides the best efficiency. In the current study, an attempt was made to apply exactly this method to the management of radioactive waste. Results: The problem of RW management is complex and requires consideration of numerous factors. The initial basis, should be a functional approach. That is, the representation of the entire system through functional subsystems – groups of objects on which they behave with RW, and the subsequent division of each of the functional subsystems into further subsystems according to the types of accumulated and generated RW (aggregate state, activity level, radionuclide composition, etc.), which in turn is divided into elements. Conclusions: Proposed conceptual model structures the RW management system with all the variety of objects – sources of RW generation, types of RW and types of activities with them in separate subsystems – stages of RW management from their generation to disposal, and thus allows to significantly reduce the number of directions necessary for safety regulations in adoption of solutions.