Sensitivity of Pressurized Water Reactor Source Term Inventory and Decay Power to Core Management Parameters

ORIGEN2 was used to develop a data base of pressurized water reactor isotopic concentrations at various times after discharge with core burnup, specific power, enrichment, and neutron spectrum as variables. Results were analyzed to determine source term sensitivity to core management. Fuel rod power history was found to have an important effect on the source term. Activity and decay power are almost linear with specific power for the first month of cooling, but not sensitive to the other parameters. Longer term isotopic sensitivities are described but are not important to the source term. Long-term decay power is primarily dependent on burnup, which is also a function of exposure history.