Worst source term determination for radionuclides of given ranges

In determining the source term for radiological consequence analysis of non-reactor operations, safety analysts sometimes are given a range of weight or curie fractions for the radionuclides in a process stream. Because the worst radiological dose is of most interest to safety analysts, the worst source term from the given ranges of radionuclide composition must be determined. This paper presents a methodology which can be used by safety analysts for the determining the isotopic distribution to yield the maximum radiological consequences when a range of weight or curie compositions are possible. Use of this methodology eliminates any unnecessary. safety and/or environmental concerns because safety analysts no longer have to make overly conservative assumptions to simplify the worst source term determination. The method uses a relative-dose concept which overcomes the tediousness of the traditional trial-and-error approach. Depending on the location of receptors, two relative-dose equations are derived: one for the operating personnel inside a building and the other for workers outside the building. Example problems will be used to illustrate the methodology for the determination of the worst source term