Krypton-85 purge at Three Mile Island: a comparison of measured and calculated surface air concentrations
During the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit No. 2 pressurized water reactor in March 1979, approximately 45,000 Ci of /sup 85/Kr were trapped in the reactor building. Between 28 June and 11 July 1980, the /sup 85/Kr was released through the plant vent at a controlled, measured rate. This purge offered an opportunity to test model estimates of the /sup 85/Kr dispersion with measurements of surface air concentrations. During the purge, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected daily air samples for /sup 85/Kr measurements within 8.5 km of TMI. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., (LLNL) used computer models in real time to generate hourly /sup 85/Kr concentration-contour maps, which were used to position EPA mobile sampling units. To evaluate the LLNL models at greater distances, the Radiological Sciences Laboratory (RSL) of the New York State Department of Health measured /sup 85/Kr concentrations on 8 July 1980, toward the end of the purge, at sites ranging from 36-63 km from the reactor. The measured concentrations were compared to the results of model calculations that were subsequently performed by LLNL.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA
- OSTI ID:
- 5380978
- Journal Information:
- Health Phys.; (United States), Vol. 49:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
KRYPTON 85
ACTIVITY LEVELS
DIFFUSION
SURFACE AIR
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
AIR
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FLUIDS
GASES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
KRYPTON ISOTOPES
MASS TRANSFER
NUCLEI
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
500300* - Environment
Atmospheric- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
220900 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety