Improved response functions for gamma-ray skyshine analyses

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6966825

Shultis, J K; Faw, R E; Deng, X ^[1]

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1. Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering

A computationally simple method, based on line-beam response functions, is refined for estimating gamma skyshine dose rates. Critical to this method is the availability of an accurate approximation for the line-beam response function (LBRF). In this study the LBRF is evaluated accurately with the point-kernel technique using recent photon interaction data. Various approximations to the LBRF are considered, and a three parameter formula is selected as the most practical approximation. By fitting the approximating formula to point-kernel results, a set of parameters is obtained that allows the LBRF to be quickly and accurately evaluated for energies between 0.01 and 15 MeV, for source-to-detector distances from 1 to 3000 m, and for beam angles from 0 to 180 degrees. This reevaluation of the approximate LBRF gives better accuracy, especially at low energies, over a greater source-to-detector range than do previous LBRF approximations. A conical beam response function is also introduced for application to skyshine sources that are azimuthally symmetric about a vertical axis. The new response functions are then applied to three simple skyshine geometries (an open silo geometry, an infinite wall, and a rectangular four-wall building) and the results compared to previous calculations and benchmark data.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Kansas State Univ., Manhattan, KS (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6966825
• Report Number(s): SAND-92-7296; ON: DE93003230
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220100 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Theory & Calculation
663620* -- Physics of Radiations Other Than Neutrons-- (1992-)
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
AIR
BENCHMARKS
DOSE RATES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
FUNCTIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
GAMMA SOURCES
GASES
INTERPOLATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
KERNELS
MATHEMATICS
MODIFICATIONS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
POINT KERNELS
POWER PLANTS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATION TRANSPORT
RADIATIONS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SCATTERING
SHIELDING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS