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Transport of gaseous C-14 from a repository in unsaturated rock

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/138057· OSTI ID:138057
The authors predict the transport of gaseous {sup 14}CO{sub 2} from a nuclear waste repository in unsaturated rock using a porous-medium model. This model is justified if the appropriate modified Peclet number, which indicates equilibrium between gas in fractures and liquid in rock pores, is much less than unity. Numerical illustrations are given which are applicable to the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain which is 350 m underground. Maximum predicted concentrations of {sup 14}CO{sub 2} near the ground surface are comparable to the USNRC limit for unrestricted areas. Maximum predicted dose rates above ground are less than 1% of background. Travel times are predicted to be hundreds to thousands of years. For some cases, it is shown that the release rate from the source has negligible effect on concentrations at the ground surface. 15 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
138057
Report Number(s):
LBL--29744; ON: DE91010207
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English