Title: Atmospheric dispersion of argon-41 from a nuclear research reactor: measurement and modelling of plume geometry and gamma radiation field

Authors: Bent Lauritzen, Poul Astrup, Martin Drews, Hans Jorgensen, Torben Mikkelsen, Soren Thykier-Nielsen, Helle Karina Aage, Uffe Korsbech, Kim Bargholz, Carlos Rojas-Palma, Raf Van Ammel

Addresses: Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Riso National Laboratory, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark. ' Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. ' Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark. ' Danish Emergency Management Agency, DK-3460 Birkerod, Denmark. ' Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium. ' Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN), Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mol, Belgium

Abstract: An atmospheric dispersion experiment was conducted using a visible tracer along with the routine releases of ⁴¹Ar from the BR1 research reactor in Mol, Belgium. Simultaneous measurements of plume geometry and radiation field from ⁴¹Ar decay were performed as well as measurements of the ⁴¹Ar source term and the meteorological parameters. Good overall agreement is found between measurement data and model results using the mesoscale atmospheric dispersion and dose rate model RIMPUFF.

Keywords: aerosols; argon-41; BR1 reactor; gamma detection; optical radar; plumes; tracer techniques.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2003.004244

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2003 Vol.20 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.47 - 54

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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