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Title: Impact of boundary layer simulation on predicting radioactive pollutant dispersion: a case study for HANARO Research Reactor using the WRF-MMIF-CALPUFF modeling system

Journal Article · · Nuclear Engineering and Technology
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Kyungpook National Univ., Daegu (South Korea)
  2. Korea Atomic Energy Research Inst. Daejeon (South Korea)
  3. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  4. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
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Wind plays an important role in cases of unexpected radioactive pollutant dispersion, deciding distribution and concentration of the leaked substance. The accurate prediction of wind has been challenging in numerical weather prediction models, especially near the surface because of the complex interaction between turbulent flow and topographic effect. As such, in this study, we investigated the characteristics of atmospheric dispersion of radioactive material (i.e. 137Cs) according to the simulated boundary layer around the HANARO research nuclear reactor in Korea using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Mesoscale Model Interface (MMIF)-California Puff (CALPUFF) model system. We examined the impacts of orographic drag on wind field, stability calculation methods, and planetary boundary layer parameterizations on the dispersion of radioactive material under a radioactive leaking scenario. We found that inclusion of the orographic drag effect in the WRF model improved the wind prediction most significantly over the complex terrain area, leading the model system to estimate the radioactive concentration near the reactor more conservatively. We also emphasized the importance of the stability calculation method and employing the skillful boundary layer parameterization to ensure more accurate low atmospheric conditions, in order to simulate more feasible spatial distribution of the radioactive dispersion in leaking scenarios.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Kyungpook National University Research Fund
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1632380
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-795965; 995950
Journal Information:
Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Vol. 53, Issue 1; ISSN 1738-5733
Publisher:
Korean Nuclear SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Figures / Tables (11)

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CALPUFF
dispersion of radioactive material
WRF
wind fields
stability calculation