A 3D Lagrangian particle model for direct plume gamma dose rate calculations

A fully 3D Lagrangian particle model has been presented for calculating the direct gamma dose rates due to a radionuclide plume in the atmosphere. A continuous release of radionuclides into the atmosphere was simulated by liberating a series of puffs (each containing 100 Lagrangian particles). These puffs were released with a constant time lag between the successive puffs. The Lagrangian particle trajectories were tracked for about 25 h in a turbulent atmosphere, with a specified wind field. The atmosphere turbulent/stability characteristics like wind velocity fluctuations, eddy lifetime, etc, were obtained from the reported data in the published literature. For calculating the direct plume gamma dose rates, a point isotropic source formula has been used with appropriate attenuation and build-up factors for the air medium. Each Lagrangian particle represented a point source whose radioactive strength was calculated from the known release rate. The dose rates at ground due to the radionuclide plume were calculated by adding the contribution from each Lagrangian particle in the domain. The numerically calculated dose rates were compared with the numerical results reported in the literature. An excellent comparison was observed for downwind distances up to about 20 km. However, for distances exceeding 20 km, the numerical data were below the reported results for the Gaussian plume model. This discrepancy was due to the vertical wind shear. It is concluded that a Gaussian plume model can be used for the concentration calculations provided the lateral dispersion parameter, σy, includes the effect of wind shear, for distances exceeding 20 km. (author)