Benchmark and application of the RAETRAD (RAdon Emanation and TRAnsport into Dwellings) model

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7119245

Rogers, V C; Nielson, K K

Field measurements were used to benchmark a simple new predictive correlation between soil has permeability and soil grain size, moisture, and porosity. The correlation was incorporated with a previous diffusion correlation into the new Radon Emanation and Dwellings (RAETRAD) code, that calculates radon generation and two-dimensional transport in soils, and radon entry into structures. RAETRAD generalizes the one-dimensional Radon Emanation and Transport (RAETRAN) model, combining advective and diffusive radon transport with radon emanation, decay, absorption, and adsorption. RAETRAD calculations suggest 0.3 liter/minute normalized radon entry rate for slab-on grade homes on low-permeability soils increasing to 7 liter/minute for sandy soils. Soil or fill properties in the first few feet dominate radon entry efficiency and limiting radium concentrations for prescribed indoor radon levels. For indoor radon concentrations of 2 pCi/liter, sandy soils may contain only 2--3 pCi/g radium compared to 10--20 pCi/g for more clayey soils. This paper has been reviewed in accordance with US Environmental Protection Agency's peer and administrative review policies and approved for presentation and publication. 10 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Rogers and Associates Engineering Corp., Salt Lake City, UT (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER; EPA
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-88ER60664
• OSTI ID: 7119245
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/60664-4; CONF-900224--5; ON: DE90011419; CNN: IAG-RWFL933783
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ADSORPTION
ADVECTION
AIR POLLUTION
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BUILDINGS
COMPUTER CODES
CORRELATIONS
DECAY
DIFFUSION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
EMANATION METHOD
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FIELD TESTS
FLUIDS
GASES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
MOISTURE
NONMETALS
PARTICLE SIZE
PERMEABILITY
POLLUTION
POROSITY
R CODES
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RADIUM
RADON
RARE GASES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SIZE
SOILS
SORPTION
TESTING
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS