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Title: Investigation of {sup 14}C release in an engineered low-level waste disposal facility

Abstract

Atmospheric releases of {sup 14}C from a generic engineered low-level waste (LLW) disposal facility and its radiological impacts are investigated. A computer model that describes microbial gas generation and the transport has been developed and used to analyze the generation of {sup 14}C contaminated gases and subsequent migration in a facility. Models are based on a chemical kinetic description of aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of organic materials coupled with attending models of oxygen transport and consumption within waste containers in a facility. Effects of radiolysis on gas generation are addressed based on the estimated dose rate for class B and C wastes. Estimates predict that annual atmospheric release of {sup 14}C due to atmospheric pressure variations could range between {approximately}2.6 {times} 10{sup 8} and 5.5 {times} 10{sup 11} Bq as a result of microbial gas generation based on a volume of 48 000 m{sup 3} LLW disposed in a facility. The associated dose to a maximally exposed individual is estimated to be dominated by ingestion pathway and strongly depends on the fraction of the food imported from an uncontaminated outside area. Dose rates are expected to be <0.04 mSv/yr, considering a reasonable distance between the facility and the exposed population.more » The depletion through airborne releases of {sup 14}C inventory that is available for transport through other pathways is not expected to be a significant issue.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
  2. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
  3. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
248116
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nuclear Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 114; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
05 NUCLEAR FUELS; CARBON 14; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES; PERFORMANCE; RADIATION HAZARDS; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION; CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS; SAFETY ANALYSIS

Citation Formats

Yim, M S, Simonson, S A, and Sullivan, T M. Investigation of {sup 14}C release in an engineered low-level waste disposal facility. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Yim, M S, Simonson, S A, & Sullivan, T M. Investigation of {sup 14}C release in an engineered low-level waste disposal facility. United States.
Yim, M S, Simonson, S A, and Sullivan, T M. 1996. "Investigation of {sup 14}C release in an engineered low-level waste disposal facility". United States.
@article{osti_248116,
title = {Investigation of {sup 14}C release in an engineered low-level waste disposal facility},
author = {Yim, M S and Simonson, S A and Sullivan, T M},
abstractNote = {Atmospheric releases of {sup 14}C from a generic engineered low-level waste (LLW) disposal facility and its radiological impacts are investigated. A computer model that describes microbial gas generation and the transport has been developed and used to analyze the generation of {sup 14}C contaminated gases and subsequent migration in a facility. Models are based on a chemical kinetic description of aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of organic materials coupled with attending models of oxygen transport and consumption within waste containers in a facility. Effects of radiolysis on gas generation are addressed based on the estimated dose rate for class B and C wastes. Estimates predict that annual atmospheric release of {sup 14}C due to atmospheric pressure variations could range between {approximately}2.6 {times} 10{sup 8} and 5.5 {times} 10{sup 11} Bq as a result of microbial gas generation based on a volume of 48 000 m{sup 3} LLW disposed in a facility. The associated dose to a maximally exposed individual is estimated to be dominated by ingestion pathway and strongly depends on the fraction of the food imported from an uncontaminated outside area. Dose rates are expected to be <0.04 mSv/yr, considering a reasonable distance between the facility and the exposed population. The depletion through airborne releases of {sup 14}C inventory that is available for transport through other pathways is not expected to be a significant issue.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/248116}, journal = {Nuclear Technology},
number = 2,
volume = 114,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}