Release and transport of gaseous C-14 from a nuclear waste repository in an unsaturated medium
The potential nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain is to be in partially saturated rock. Released radioactive gases such as {sup 14}CO{sub 2} could have a direct pathway to the biosphere. We study the release of {sup 14}C released as {sup 14}CO{sub 2} from partly failed nuclear waste containers by analyzing the flow of gas into and out of a container. We analyze the transport of released {sup 14}CO{sub 2} in an unsaturated, fractured, porous medium with gas-phase advection and dispersion. We calculate the inhalation dose to a maximally exposed individual above ground, based on some conservative assumptions about release from containers. For the assumed parameter values, a simple atmospheric diffusion model gives very small doses when compared to background radiation doses. 12 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 138106
- Report Number(s):
- LBL--29044; CONF-901105--121; ON: DE91011909
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Transport of gaseous C-14 from a repository in unsaturated rock
Environmental release of carbon-14 gas from a hypothetical nuclear waste repository
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALCULATION METHODS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
DARCY LAW
EMISSION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FAILURES
FLOW MODELS
GAS FLOW
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLOGY
INFORMATION NEEDS
KNUDSEN FLOW
LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT
POROUS MATERIALS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SPENT FUEL CASKS
SPENT FUELS
SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENTS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
TUFF
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
VISCOUS FLOW
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project