A handbook for the determination of radon attenuation through cover materials
Radon emissions from bare and covered uranium mill tailings can be estimated by diffusion theory if appropriate diffusion coefficients are known. The mathematical basis for the diffusion theory expressions are herein presented, as is a general survey of previous and present research, as well as technological developments associated with randon transport through tailing cover systems. Research is presently being conducted to define more clearly the influences of moisture, porosity, pore size distribution and other factors, on the attenuative properties of cover materials. The results of these present investigations will be incorporated in a subsequent addendum to this handbook. The radon fluxes or cover thicknesses can be calculated by hand or by available computer programs. The equations and procedure for the hand calculations is in direct support of the methodology contained in Appendix P of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Uranium Milling. Several examples are given to demonstrate the methodology.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle-Northwest, Richland, WA (USA). Pacific Northwest Lab.
- OSTI ID:
- 5196790
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-2340; PNL-4084
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
COVERINGS
PERMEABILITY
MILL TAILINGS
RADON
DIFFUSION
ATTENUATION
COMPUTER CODES
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
FORTRAN
MANUALS
POROSITY
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
NONMETALS
PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
RARE GASES
SOLID WASTES
TAILINGS
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
053000 - Nuclear Fuels- Environmental Aspects