Numerical modelling for the distribution of 137Cs and 131I in the scheldt basin after a potential nuclear accident

IF 1.9 3区环境科学与生态学 Q3 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Journal of environmental radioactivity Pub Date : 2024-11-10 DOI:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2024.107568

Amit Ravindra Patil , Fabricio Fiengo Perez , Jonathan Lambrechts , Insaf Draoui , Eric Deleersnijder

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Using the discontinuous Galerkin method in the SLIM modelling framework, we study the transport in the Scheldt basin and adjacent coastal area of radionuclides possibly emitted by Doel nuclear power plant in the aftermath of an accident. The contamination pathways taken into consideration are direct liquid releases into the water and deposition via the atmosphere. In past nuclear accidents, several radionuclides were released, among which, ¹³¹I and ¹³⁷Cs were considered herein. The hydrodynamics and atmospheric conditions are selected to simulate the worst-case scenario in the domain of interest. The radionuclide deposition towards the North Sea results in ¹³¹I and ¹³⁷Cs being transported to the Belgian coastal region. In case of deposition towards the river, radioactivity from upstream tributaries can reach the estuary within days. Direct liquid releases spread downstream until the mouth of the estuary after about few weeks and extend upstream into the Scheldt River. In all cases, due to tidal influence, the estuary becomes most vulnerable, with radioactivity potentially circulating for over a month. Additionally, higher river discharge resulted in decreased radioactivity levels in the estuary.

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潜在核事故后斯海尔德河流域 137Cs 和 131I 分布的数值模拟。

利用 SLIM 建模框架中的非连续伽勒金方法，我们研究了事故发生后，Doel 核电站可能排放的放射性核素在斯海尔德河流域和邻近沿海地区的迁移情况。考虑的污染途径包括直接向水中释放液体和通过大气沉降。在过去的核事故中，曾释放出多种放射性核素，本文考虑的是其中的 131I 和 137Cs。水动力学和大气条件的选择是为了模拟相关领域中最坏的情况。放射性核素沉积到北海后，131I 和 137Cs 会迁移到比利时沿海地区。在向河流沉积的情况下，上游支流的放射性物质可在数天内到达河口。直接释放的液体会在几周后向下游扩散，直至河口，并向上游延伸至斯海尔德河。在所有情况下，由于潮汐的影响，河口变得最为脆弱，放射性可能会循环一个多月。此外，较高的河流排水量也会导致河口的放射性水平下降。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of environmental radioactivity 环境科学-环境科学

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

13.00%

发文量

209

审稿时长

73 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Environmental Radioactivity provides a coherent international forum for publication of original research or review papers on any aspect of the occurrence of radioactivity in natural systems. Relevant subject areas range from applications of environmental radionuclides as mechanistic or timescale tracers of natural processes to assessments of the radioecological or radiological effects of ambient radioactivity. Papers deal with naturally occurring nuclides or with those created and released by man through nuclear weapons manufacture and testing, energy production, fuel-cycle technology, etc. Reports on radioactivity in the oceans, sediments, rivers, lakes, groundwaters, soils, atmosphere and all divisions of the biosphere are welcomed, but these should not simply be of a monitoring nature unless the data are particularly innovative.