Comparison of radon diffusion coefficients measured by transient-diffusion and steady-state laboratory methods
A method was developed and used to determine radon diffusion coefficients in compacted soils by transient-diffusion measurements. A relative standard deviation of 12% was observed in repeated measurements with a dry soil by the transient-diffusion method, and a 40% uncertainty was determined for moistures exceeding 50% of saturation. Excellent agreement was also obtained between values of the diffusion coefficient for radon in air, as measured by the transient-diffusion method, and those in the published literature. Good agreement was also obtained with diffusion coefficients measured by a steady-state method on the same soils. The agreement was best at low moistures, averaging less than ten percent difference, but differences of up to a factor of two were observed at high moistures. The comparison of the transient-diffusion and steady-state methods at low moistures provides an excellent verification of the theoretical validity and technical accuracy of these approaches, which are based on completely independent experimental conditions, measurement methods and mathematical interpretations.
- Research Organization:
- Rogers and Associates Engineering Corp., Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6872243
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-2875; PNL-4370; RAE-18-3; ON: DE83004556
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADON
DIFFUSION
SOILS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
MEASURING METHODS
MILL TAILINGS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FLUIDS
GASES
MASS TRANSFER
NONMETALS
RARE GASES
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
WASTES
510301* - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Soil- (-1987)
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage