Radiation consequences of hypothetical accidents associated with transportation of spent nuclear fuel of nuclear submarines aboard floating technical base

Nuclear Safety Institute of Russian Academy of Science, 52 B.Tulskaya, 115191 Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Reload of spent nuclear fuel of nuclear submarines and its subsequent transportation for reprocessing may be carried out by the vessel – floating technical base (FTB). Up to 4–5 reactor cores (∼ 10¹⁶ Bq) can be taken aboard, transportation can occur for long distance. In case of the accidents with infringement of protective barriers, FTB may be a significant source of radiation hazard. Two hypothetical accidents associated with explosion and fire aboard and sinking the FTB are analyzed. In the first case a source term for the release and aerial radionuclide spreading out have been estimated, in second case radiation consequences have been estimated for water way taking into account remaining protective barriers. Main task of the assessments was radiation impact on population and environment at long distances from the source.