Contaminant transport during atmospheric pumping of a nuclear chimney: Progress report

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6725321· OSTI ID:6725321

Nilson, R H; Peterson, E W

Cyclical variations in barometric pressure cause an oscillatory up-and-down motion of gases within the chimney produced by an underground nuclear test. Analytical and experimental modeling of this atmospheric pumping mechanism has been undertaken to better understand and to quantify the associated rates of cavity gas migration toward the earth's surface and the probable rate of release to the atmosphere. Three different types of models are being investigated: (1) homogeneous porous medium; (2) fractured medium with impermeable matrix blocks; and (3) double-porosity media consisting of fracture networks among porous matrix blocks. A primary purpose is to understand how the oscillatory character of the atmospheric pumping process might significantly enhance the contaminant transport in any or all of the three classes of media. This preliminary report describes some of the analytical, numerical, and experimental work which have been completed.

• Research Organization: S-Cubed, La Jolla, CA (USA); Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6725321
• Report Number(s): UCRL-15860-Vol.2; SSS-R-86-7726; ON: DE87006684
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
510300 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CAVITIES
DIFFUSION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EXPLOSIONS
FRACTURED RESERVOIRS
GASEOUS WASTES
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
POROUS MATERIALS
PUMPING
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROCKS
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
VARIATIONS
WASTES