Numerical simulation of air pollutant dispersion using an in situ tracer experiment at a nuclear site

摘要

A tracer dispersion experiment was conducted at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant, Korea to determine concentrations of airborne radioactive materials under weather conditions unfavorable to dispersion. The observed concentrations were compared with estimates from a Gaussian plume model to determine whether the model provides sufficiently conservative estimation under bad weather conditions and is therefore suited to radiological impact analysis at nuclear power facilities. It was found that the more often the meteorological data was used, the more advantageous it was in helping to understand the diffusion characteristics of radioactive materials. Most of the current computer models for estimating the dispersion of airborne radioactive materials, which are needed to gain construction approval for a nuclear power plant, are based on the Gaussian plume model. Overall, the Gaussian plume model overestimates the concentration of airborne radioactive materials compared with actual observations. This suggests that the model is suitably conservative to enable its use in radiological environmental impact assessment of the health risks to nearby communities.