Validation of the theoretical estimation of radiation levels in Spent Fuel Bay of a research reactor

Spent Fuel Bay (SFB) is one of the main facilities provided in the research reactor for handling irradiated fuel assemblies. Various operational activities and long-term storage of fuel assemblies lead to the contamination of bay water and deposition of radio nuclides at the bottom of the bay. The radiological safety during decommissioning of Spent Fuel Bay requires planning for dose budgeting and waste management. Theoretical estimates on the radiation levels inside the water filled bays and also outside the bays in different scenarios of active material handling were made using Monte Carlo based techniques. The theoretical estimates were validated by taking measurements inside the bay water at different elevations. The experimental measurements were taken for different bays in the spent fuel storage building. The validated theoretical model of the spent fuel storage bay is essential during planning for future decommissioning of the facility