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{{#Wiki_filter:U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION June 1989 REGULATORY GUIDE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH REGULATORY GUIDE 3.64 (Task WM 503-4) CALCULATION OF RADON FLUX ATTENUATION BY EARTHEN URANIUM MILL TAILINGS | {{#Wiki_filter:U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY | ||
COMMISSION | |||
June 1989 REGULATORY | |||
GUIDE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY | |||
RESEARCH REGULATORY | |||
GUIDE 3.64 (Task WM 503-4) CALCULATION | |||
OF RADON FLUX ATTENUATION | |||
BY EARTHEN URANIUM MILL TAILINGS COVERS USNRC REGULATORY | |||
GUIDES Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the pub lic methods acceptable to the NRC staff of Implementing specific parts of the Commission's regulations, to delineate techniques used by the staff In evaluating specific problems or postulated accidents, or to pro vide guidance to applicants. | |||
Regulatory Guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance with them is not required. | |||
Methods and solutions different from those set out In the guides will be acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings requisite to the Issuance or continu ance of a permit or license by the Commission. | |||
This guide was issued after consideration of comments received from the public. Comments and suggestions for Improvements In these guides are encouraged at all times, and guides will be revised, as ap propriate, to accommodate comments and to reflect new Information or experience. | |||
Written comments may be submitted to the Regulatory Publications Branch, DFIPS, ARM, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washing ton, DC 20555.The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions: | |||
1. Power Reactors 6. Products 2. Research and Test Reactors | |||
===7. Transportation === | |||
3. Fuels and Materials Facilities | |||
8. Occupational Health 4. Environmental and Siting 9. Antitrust and Financial Review 5. Materials and Plant Protection | |||
10. General Copies of issued guides may be purchased from the Government Printing Office at the current GPO price. Information on current GPO prices may be obtained by contacting the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082, telephone | |||
(202)275-2060 | |||
or (202)275-2171. | |||
Issued guides may also be purchased from the National Technical Infor mation Service on a standing order basis. Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161. | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page | TABLE OF CONTENTS Page | ||
==A. INTRODUCTION== | ==A. INTRODUCTION== | ||
..................................................... 3.64-1 | ..................................................... | ||
3.64-1 | |||
==B. DISCUSSION== | ==B. DISCUSSION== | ||
....................................................... 3.64-1 1. Determination of Parameters .................................. 3.64-2 2. Cover Thickness Calculations ................................. 3.64-3 | ....................................................... | ||
3.64-1 1. Determination of Parameters | |||
.................................. | |||
3.64-2 2. Cover Thickness Calculations | |||
................................. | |||
3.64-3 C. REGULATORY | |||
POSITION .............................................. | |||
3.64-4 1. Determination of Parameters | |||
.................................. | |||
3.64-5 1.1 Fundamental Parameters | |||
...................................... | |||
3.64-5 1.1.1 Layer Thicknesses | |||
......................................... | |||
3.64-5 1.1.2 Layer Densities, Specific Gravities, and Porosities | |||
....... 3.64-7 1.1.3 Long-Term Average Moistures | |||
............................... | |||
3.64-8 1.1.4 Radium Activities | |||
......................................... | |||
3.64-10 1.1.5 Radon Diffusion Coefficients | |||
.............................. | |||
3.64-10 1.1.6 Radon Emanation Coefficients | |||
.............................. | |||
3.64-11 1.1.7 Other Fundamental Parameters | |||
.............................. | |||
3.64-11 1.2 Calculated Parameters | |||
....................................... | |||
3.64-11 2. Calculations of Cover Thickness | |||
.............................. | |||
3.64-12 | |||
== | ==D. IMPLEMENTATION== | ||
............. | ................................................... | ||
3.64-14 APPENDIX A, Examples of Uranium Tailings Cover Thickness Calculations. | |||
3.64-15 APPENDIX B, The RADON Program ......................................... | |||
3.64-19 REFERENCES | |||
............................................................ | |||
3.64-41 VALUE/IMPACT | |||
STATEMENT | |||
................................................ | |||
3.64-42 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Cover Design Parameters, Symbols, and Reference Values ...... 3.64-6 1B RADON Program Listing ....................................... | |||
3.64-27 2B RADON Program Sample Problem Output ......................... | |||
3.64-39 iii | |||
==A. INTRODUCTION== | ==A. INTRODUCTION== | ||
The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of 1978 (Public Law 95-604) gives the NRC responsibility to ensure, through the licensing | The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of 1978 (Public Law 95-604) gives the NRC responsibility to ensure, through the licensing proc ess, that final disposal of uranium byproduct material (tailings) | ||
is conducted in a way that will protect the public health and safety and the environment. | |||
Public Law 95-604 also requires that uranium tailings disposal conform to stan dards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The NRC staff is required to analyze the adequacy of uranium tailings covers proposed in li cense applications to meet the EPA rules. The EPA rules in 40 CFR Part 192 require that a cover be designed to produce reasonable assurance that the radon 222 release rate would not exceed 20 pCi m-2 s-1 for a period of 1000 years to the extent reasonably achievable and in any case for at least 200 years when averaged over the disposal area over at least a one-year period. NRC regulations in 10 CFR Part 40 also require that the radon-222 release rate not exceed 20 pCi m-2 s-1 for active (UMTRCA Title II) sites. Alternatively, for inactive (UMTRCA Title I) sites, the EPA rules permit the Department of Energy (DOE) to choose to meet an optional standard for radon concentration of less than 0.5 pCi per liter over background. | |||
This regulatory guide describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for calculating radon fluxes through earthen covers and for calculating the result ing minimum cover thickness needed to meet NRC and EPA standards. | |||
The guide also suggests methods for obtaining the various parameters used in calculating the radon fluxes and earthen cover thicknesses and suggests default values for certain parameters. | |||
This regulatory guide is applicable to active uranium tailings sites. The NRC staff is using the methods stated in this guide as a basis for review and concurrence of DOE remedial action plans for inactive sites. The guidance is intended to be used for calculating radon flux attenuation by earthen uranium mill tailings covers. The parameter values and examples presented are limited to earthen cover materials, but the diffusion theory and the methods presented are also applicable to man-made materials. | |||
Detailed supporting information for calculating minimum cover thickness is published separately in the "Radon Atten uation Handbook For Uranium Mill Tailings Cover Design," NUREG/CR-3533 (Ref. 1). Any information collection activities mentioned in this regulatory guide are contained as requirements in 10 CFR Part 40, which provides the regulatory basis for this guide. The information collection requirements in 10 CFR Part 40 have been cleared under OMB Clearance No. 3150-0020. | |||
==B. DISCUSSION== | ==B. DISCUSSION== | ||
The design of a cover to reduce radon releases from uranium tailings | The design of a cover to reduce radon releases from uranium tailings de pends on the values of a variety of fundamental parameters that characterize the tailings and cover materials. | ||
Once determined, the values of these param eters may be used to calculate the thickness of cover that is required to 3.64-1 reduce the flux of radon from the tailings to any prescribed limit. This guide presents guidance on (1) determining appropriate values of the parameters and (2) exact and approximate methods for calculating radon fluxes for most cover configurations and conditions. | |||
The approximate calculation methods give results similar to those from the exact methods and thus provide for flexibility in performing the cover design calculations. | |||
For multilayer covers, an exact hand calculated solution is not available. | |||
Either an approximate method or a com puter solution must be used for systems with more than two layers. | |||
===1. DETERMINATION === | |||
OF PARAMETERS | |||
Because the radon flux limit in the EPA standard is given as an average over the entire disposal area over a period of at least one year (40 CFR Part 192), anomalies in position and time may be ignored and estimates of the long-term spatial average for all parameters should be used. Because the EPA limit on radon flux is to apply for a period of at least 200 and up to 1000 years, parameter values should be selected conservatively taking into account potential degradation of the cover over time. Parameters needed to characterize the tailings and cover materials include thickness, density, specific gravity, porosity, moisture, radium activity, radon diffusion coefficient, and radon emanation coefficient (Refs. 1 and 2). Values of some of the parameters such as tailings pile thickness and aver age radium activity can be reasonably estimated for initial license applica tions from mill plans, anticipated average ore grades, and tailings dam design. The most significant parameter affecting the thickness of earthen cover needed to meet the EPA radon flux criterion is the radon diffusion coefficient of the cover. The value of the radon diffusion coefficient is very sensitive to the availability of interconnected air-filled pores and therefore, at moderate to high moisture contents, to the cover moisture content and porosity. | |||
The param eter that introduces the greatest uncertainty into the calculation of earthen cover thickness for radon attenuation is the cover moisture content. The values for the cover and tailings moisture contents, densities, and radon diffusion coefficients are difficult to estimate or measure because long-term moisture changes and settling may occur after the installation of a cover system. There fore, conservative values of these parameters measured under similar long-term conditions or conservative predictive correlations of these parameters with the significant variables may be needed. Specific guidance with respect to measur ing each parameter is detailed in the regulatory position of this guide. For each parameter, the applicant will provide information describing the test method, its precision and accuracy, and its applicability for representing a long-term, large-area conservative average. | |||
Although accurate site-specific measurements of all parameters would be ideal, the uncertainties, costs, and reliability of such measurements may make the use of default values or conservative correlation predictions a reasonable and satisfactory alternative. | |||
However, the applicant should recognize that careful measurement of parameter values may be justified by savings in the cost of covering the tailings. | |||
The NRC staff has selected default values with the intent that minimum cover thicknesses calculated using default parameters will be equal to or greater than thicknesses calculated using measured parameters. | |||
If reasonable evidence indicates that default values or correlation predictions may not be conservative or realistic for a site, the applicant should measure the parameter values for which default values could be nonconservative. | |||
3.64-2 An important factor in the long-term performance of a tailings cover system is its ability to remain free of defects over long time periods. Centimeter scale defects caused by soil shrinkage, erosion cracks, erosion piping, animal burrows, and former root channels that are deeply penetrating and relatively frequent could cause a significant loss in cover performance (Ref. 3). To cause a factor of two increase in radon flux, cracks must be at least 2 cm wide, must be spaced less than 1 m apart, and must penetrate at least 75% of the cover thickness (Ref.3). Such defects would be easily detected by visual inspection except when covered by riprap (Ref. 3). To promote long-term effectiveness, the staff recommends that smectite clays or other swelling clays, if used, should be well compacted and protected from excessive wetting and drying by additional soil layers. The staff further recommends that well-compacted soils generally be utilized to minimize biointrusion as well as to minimize shrinkage and formation of other defects. Proper surface covering and contouring are also important to reduce erosion. Cover layers such as riprap or topsoil that are used solely for erosion control should not be included in radon flux cal culations. | |||
Likewise, cover material subject to erosion should not be included. | |||
However, the effects of riprap or topsoil on the long-term moisture content of the earthen cover need to be considered. | |||
===2. COVER THICKNESS === | |||
CALCULATIONS | |||
The basis for the radon flux and minimum cover thickness calculations presented here is one-dimensional steady-state gas diffusion theory (Ref. 1). Only vertical diffusion is considered because the horizontal dimensions of tailings piles are large compared to the typical mean radon diffusion length of at most 1 to 2 meters. Short-term variations are ignored because the regulation addresses the long-term average radon flux. Advective transport, the externally forced movement of radon, also affects radon fluxes, but pri marily over short time periods. For tailings covers, advective effects usually have negligible impacts in comparison to diffusion when averaged over the natural long-term cycles in thermal, barometric, and other advective driving forces (Ref. 4). Advective transport may thus be ignored unless local anomalies are known to cause sustained directional transport of soil gases. The thickness of earthen cover required to reduce radon fluxes to accept able levels depends on the radon source strength of the tailings and on the efficiency of the cover material in reducing the flux. Radioactive decay of radium-226 in tailings and soil produces radon-222, which is an inert, short lived, radioactive gas. Radon diffuses through the soil pore space over average distances defined by its 3.8-day half-life and by its diffusion coefficient. | |||
The flux of radon reaching the atmosphere is reduced by delaying its release because a greater fraction decays in the cover. The delay may be accomplished by increasing the cover thickness, employing a cover material with a lower diffusion coefficient, increasing the cover compaction, or increasing the long-term moisture content of the cover. Thus the diffusion coefficient for radon in the cover material is a key parameter determining its efficiency. | |||
The one-dimensional steady-state diffusion equation appropriate for radon flux determinations (Ref. 1) is: D 2 C -XC + RpEXn 0 ()3.64-3 where D = diffusion coefficient for radon in the total pore space (cm 2 s-') C = radon concentration in the total pore space (pCi cm-3) X = radon decay constant (2.1x1O-6 s-') R = specific activity of radium-226 (pCi g-1) p = dry bulk mass density of soil or tailings (g cm-3) E = radon emanation coefficient (dimensionless) | |||
n = soil or tailings porosity (dimensionless) | |||
Radon flux is related to the radon concentration gradient by: J = -10 4 D dnCx (2) where J = radon flux (pCi m-2 s-') 104 = units conversion (cm 2/m 2) Solutions to Equation 1 are obtained by applying boundary conditions for the system being analyzed and solving for the surface radon flux. For a thick bare tailings source, boundary conditions are typically | |||
(1) a specified or zero radon concentration at the air surface and (2) zero or negative radon flux at the base of the tailings. | |||
For tailings with covers or other systems consisting of layers of different materials, additional boundary conditions for each inter face between layers are (3) continuity in radon concentration and (4) continuity in radon flux. Individual layers should be defined by the occurrence of distinct changes in radium content, soil texture, compaction, or moisture. | |||
The exact solutions to Equations I and 2 can be arranged to calculate di rectly the radon flux for a given set of tailings and cover parameters. | |||
The thickness of cover needed to achieve a specified radon flux can also be deter mined directly. | |||
Specific guidance on the cover thickness calculations is given in the regulatory position. | |||
C. REGULATORY | |||
POSITION The parameter values and equations by which the NRC staff will estimate radon flux and minimum thicknesses for uranium tailings covers are presented below. These equations are appropriate for the design criteria that the staff routinely considers in its evaluations. | |||
3.64-4 | |||
===1. DETERMINATION === | |||
OF PARAMETERS | |||
The design of an adequate tailings cover system depends on the values of several fundamental parameters of the tailings and cover materials. | |||
These include the thicknesses, densities, specific gravities, moistures, radium activities, radon diffusion coefficients, and radon emanation coefficients of the materials. | |||
In addition, several secondary parameters are calculated from the fundamental parameters for simplicity in performing the necessary calcula tions. Examples of secondary parameters are the fractions of moisture satura tion and the radon flux from the uncovered (bare) tailings source. Table 1 lists all of the cover design parameters, their symbols, and reference values or sources of data. Table I and other sections of this guide provide default values that are, by their very nature, conservative. | |||
If the applicant does not elect to use actual measured values, the default values may be used. The applicant may use other values if it can be demonstrated that the use of such values is appropriate. | |||
On the other hand, default values should not be used if the applicant has information or indications that their use would lead to underestimation of the resultant radon flux. An example in point would be to use the default value for E, the radon emanation coefficient, for the case of windblown tailings that may have higher radon emanation rates. 1.1 Fundamental Parameters Because of the difficulty and possible ambiguity in determining represen tative values for the fundamental parameters, sections 1.1.1 through 1.1.7 provide guidance on methods acceptable to the NRC staff for determining their values. 1.1.1 Layer Thicknesses The thickness of the tailings source, xt, will be determined from the applicant's estimates of total tailings production and areal extent of the pile. Because a tailings thickness greater than about 100-200 cm is effectively equivalent to an infinitely thick radon source (Ref. 1), a value of xt = 500 cm represents an equivalent infinitely thick tailings source of radon that may be used in the absence of more specific smaller values. Cover layer thicknesses, 3.64-5 TABLE 1 Cover Design Parameters, Symbols, and Reference Values Symbol Parameter and Units Reference Value Fundamental ,xt, Xc Thickness of tailings (t) and cover (c) xt = 500 Parameters layers (cm) Pt' Pc Dry bulk mass densities of tailings and Pt = 1.6 cover (g cm-3) Pc -measured Pw Mass density of water (g cm-3) Pw= 1 Gt, Gc Specific gravities of tailings and cover Gt = Gc = 2.65 (dimensionless) | |||
wý W c Long-term average moisture content of w t 6 tailings and cover (dry wt. percent) w -measured or estimated Rt, Rc Specific activities of radium-226 in the R = 2812 | |||
* U 3 0 8 tailings and cover (pCi g-1) p~rcentage Dt, D Diffusion coefficients for radon in the Equation 7 total pore space of the tailings and cover (cm 2 s-') E Radon emanation coefficient for the E = 0.35 tailings and cover (dimensionless) | |||
A Radon-222 decay constant (s-1) A = 2.1x1O-6 k Equilibrium distribution coefficient for k = 0.26 radon in water and air (pCi cm-3 water per pCi cm-3 air) Jc Radon flux criterion from the cover into J = 20 the atmosphere (pCi m-2 s-1) c Calculated nt, nC Porosities of the tailings and cover measured or Parameters (dimensionless) | |||
Equation 4 mt, mc Moisture saturation fractions in tailings Equation 8 and cover (dimensionless) | |||
J Radon flux from the bare tailings source Equation 9 t (pCi m-2 s-') bt, bc Inverse relaxation lengths for tailings Equation 10 and cover (cm-') at, ac Interface constants for tailings and Equation 11 cover (cm s-1)3.64-6 Xc, must be calculated to satisfy the radon flux criterion but must be suffi ciently thick for the intended application and compaction techniques and for maintaining physical integrity. | |||
1.1.2 Layer Densities, Specific Gravities, and Porosities Bulk dry mass densities for the tailings, pt, and cover, Pc' are related to the specific gravities for the tailings, Gt, and cover, GC, the mass density of water, pw' and the porosities for the tailings, nt, and cover, nc, by the equations Pt = GtPw(1 -nt) PC = GcPw(1 -nc) (3) Likewise, the porosities may be calculated by the equations p P t_ c(4) nt =1 n = G tPw c GcPw Thus only two of the three variables need be determined because the third can be calculated. | |||
However, for greater confidence and reliability, the NRC staff suggests measuring all three variables and cross checking for consistency. | |||
The density of water, pw' is equal to unity and is generally ignored in calcu lations but is required to make the equations dimensionally consistent. | |||
The.. staff will use a default tailings density of Pt = 1.6 g cm-3 unless acceptable documented alternative values are provided by the applicant. | |||
This dry bulk mass density is equivalent to a porosity of 40% at a specific gravity of 2.65, which is the density of quartz. The value of 2.65 for specific gravity is conservative because other common tailings and cover minerals have densities less than or equal to the density of quartz. The use of reference values for tailings parameters is acceptable because radon flux and cover thickness cal culations are more sensitive to cover parameters than to tailings parameters. | |||
The staff recommends that cover materials be compacted to approximately | |||
95% of the maximum dry density as determined by the standard Proctor density test. The staff will accept cover densities properly determined by the standard Proctor test (ASTM-D-698, Ref. 5) for the candidate soils. The staff will use a reference specific gravity of 2.65 for all quartzose tailings and cover materials. | |||
3.64-7 If materials with specific gravities significantly different from quartz are used, acceptable documented alternative values should be provided by the applicant. | |||
Porosities may be measured by mercury porosimetry or other reliable method or determined by Equation 4, which, if reference values for bulk density and spe cific gravity are used, is equivalent to using a default porosity of 40%. 1.1.3 Long-Term Average Moistures The NRC staff considers several methods for predicting the long-term soil moisture content to be acceptable. | |||
An appropriate method is to measure the actual long-term moisture content at the cover material borrow site and to make adjustments, if needed, for differences between the borrow site and the dis posal site. The staff recommends that soil moistures for the candidate cover materials, Wc, be measured from samples obtained from depths of 120 to 500 cm. The term w is the long-term average dry weight percent moisture content of the material. | |||
It is calculated by dividing the weight of free water by the weight of a dried sample. Shallow samples of the soil should be excluded because of the high seasonal variability in their moisture content. Samples close to a water table should also be excluded to avoid biasing the moisture estimate for the tailings cover. Moisture contents may be calculated by computer models of unsaturated flow provided that the models are fully documented and are validated for the range of possible site conditions. | |||
Parameter values used in modelling must be either accurate measured values or reasonable conservative estimates. | |||
Measured and conservative values must be applicable to periods of drought. | |||
Bayer (Ref. 6) has indicated that soil moisture reduced by drainage and evapo-transpiration will eventually approach and may even go beyond the perma nent wilting point. The wilting point is the soil moisture content at which soil can no longer supply water at a rate sufficient to maintain plant life. The tension of the soil water when permanent wilting occurs is about 15 at mospheres (Ref. 6). The NRC staff will accept the moisture content at which permanent wilting occurs as a reasonable value of the long-term moisture con tent. This value may be determined from actual laboratory testing or from estimated empirical relationships such as those determined by Rawls and Brakensiek (Ref. 7). Rawls and Brakensiek conducted a study on 1323 soils with 3.64-8 approximately | |||
5350 horizons and from 32 states. From their data, relationships were derived for predicting soil water retention volumes at matric potentials ranging from 0.04 to 15 bars based on percent sand, silt, and clay, on percent organic matter, on bulk density, and on the 0.33-bar and 15-bar soil water retention values. The accuracy of these equations increases as a greater number of these soil properties are identified. | |||
The empirical relationship established in Reference | |||
7 that predicts volumetric moisture content of the soil corresponding to 15 bars is 0 = 0.026 + 0.005z + 0.0158y (5) where z = % of clay in the soil y = % of organic matter in the soil. Because the 15-bar water retention value, 6, is the permanent wilting point of the soil, the NRC staff considers that this value is a reasonable lower bound for the soil moisture content over the long term. The long-term average dry weight percent moisture of the candidate cover material, Wc, is related to e by the following equation 1 0 0 0 Pw (6) c PC where pw is generally unity. The applicant may use a reference value for wt because the calculation of cover thickness is not nearly as sensitive to the value of the moisture content of the tailings as it is to the moisture content of the cover. If acceptable documented alternative information is not furnished by the applicant, the staff will use a reference value of wt = 6% for the tailings moisture content because 6% is a lower bound for moisture in western soils (Ref. 8).3.64-9 | |||
1.1.4 Radium Activities For well-mixed tailings, the average specific radium activity of the tail ings can be determined from the average uranium ore grade of the parent mate rial, assuming secular equilibrium between uranium and radium. In this case, the radium activity should be estimated by multiplying the ore grade by 2812 pCi g-1 radium per percent U 3 0 8.The basis for estimating the average uranium ore grade in units of percent U 3 0 8 should be documented. | |||
Many tailings piles are layered, so the average radium activity of the tailings may not be adequate for determining the radon flux from the uncovered tailings. | |||
Layered tailings that have slimes on top will generally have higher radon fluxes than equivalent well-mixed tailings because tailings slimes generally have much higher radium contents than tailings sands. Therefore, the NRC staff advises in situ measurement of radium activity for nonuniform tailings. | |||
Because the criteria of 40 CFR Part 192 deal only with radon generated by the tailings, the radium activity in the cover soils may be neglected (Rc = 0) for cover design purposes provided the cover soils are obtained from background materials that are not associated with ore formations or other radium-enriched materials. | |||
1.1.5 Radon Diffusion Coefficients If measurements are not available, the staff estimates the radon diffusion coefficients of the tailings, Dt, and cover materials, Dc) from their moisture saturations, m, and porosities, n, using the correlation function D = 0.07exp[-4(m | |||
-mn 2 + M 5)] (7) The moisture saturation fraction, m, is defined in Table 1 and in section 1.2. This correlation is based on numerous radon diffusion measurements in clays, silts, sands, gravels, and mixed earthen materials with compactions generally in the range of 80-105% of standard Proctor maximum dry density (Ref. 2). The effects of long-term fluctuations of the values of the diffusion coefficients should be factored into the values ultimately used. The staff will accept properly measured radon diffusion coefficients for candidate cover soils if adequate documentation of experimental procedures, including documentation of precision and accuracy, is provided.3.64-10 | |||
1.1.6 Radon Emanation Coefficients The radon emanation coefficient, E, is the fraction of radon that is re leased from the tailings or soil matrix into the pore space. The reference value of the radon emanation coefficient used by the NRC staff is 0.35 for all materials. | |||
The staff will accept measured or other substantiated values of E provided the applicant uses proper experimental procedure or provides clear documentation. | |||
Nielson et al. (Ref. 9) describe methods of measuring E that, if properly implemented and documented, would be acceptable. | |||
1.1.7 Other Fundamental Parameters The accepted value for the radon decay constant is 2.1xi0-6 s-1.The value of the equilibrium distribution coefficient for radon between air and water that should be used is k = 0.26 pCi cm-3 water per pCi cm-3 air. This is the value of the distribution coefficient at a temperature of 20'C (Ref. 10). 1.2 Calculated Parameters Values of several parameters that occur frequently in cover design and radon flux calculations are generally calculated separately for use in subse quent design calculations. | |||
These include the moisture saturation fraction, m, and the bare source flux, J t" The moisture saturation fraction, m, is the volumetric fraction of satura tion of pore space for the tailings or cover soil. It is calculated by con verting weight percent moisture, w, to the percent of water-filled porosity with the equations 10-2 pt~wt, mt -ntpw 10-2 P cwc mc ncpw where pc' pt, Pw' n, and w are defined in Table 1. A reference value of 1 for the density of water, Pw' is generally used, but for saline pore fluids, higher values would be appropriate. | |||
The radon flux from the bare tailings source and the other calculated parameters are also defined here for use in calculating radon flux, Jc' and 3.64-11 (8) | |||
cover thickness, x .The radon flux from the bare (homogeneous) | |||
tailings source is calculated as it = 104 R tPt | |||
(9) where Rt, Ptý Et Dt0 xt, and X are defined in Table 1 and 104 changes the radon flux units from pCi cm-2 s-1 to pCi m-2 s-1.The inverse relaxation lengths for the tailings, bt, and cover soils, bc, are calculated as bt = 1X_/t, bc =X7 (10) where X and D are defined in Table 1. The respective interface constants at and ac for the tailings and cover soils are calculated as (Ref. 1) 2 2 at n 2 D [1 -(1 -k)mt] or ac =n 2 D [ -(1 -k)m] (11) t t t' c cc c where n, D, and k are defined in Table 1, and m is defined by Equation 8. | |||
===2. CALCULATIONS === | |||
OF COVER THICKNESS | |||
The applicant should determine the minimum necessary cover thickness by utilizing appropriate estimates of all parameters in one of several equivalent calculation methods. For simple single-layer covers, the radon flux pene trating the cover can be calculated as 2 Jtexp(-bcxc) | |||
(12) I + ýat/actanh(btxt) | |||
+ [1 - | |||
where J t is defined by Equation 9, bt and bc are defined by Equation 10, at and ac are defined by Equation 11, and xt and xc are defined in Table 1 and tanh is the hyperbolic tangent. For thick tailings sources, the hyperbolic tangent term, tanh(btxt), is equal to unity and may be ignored. However, if the tailings are less than 200 cm thick, Equation 12 should be used. For practical applications for which the tailings are more than 200 cm thick and the cover achieves a flux reduction greater than a factor of ten, the following simplified equation is acceptable. | |||
3.64-12 | |||
2Jtexp(-bc x) (13) 1 + qIa-t/a~ Equation 12 can be solved for xc xc=1 *n Jc /J t(1 -4_5actanh(btxt0)) | |||
b c 1 -[1 -(Jc/Jt)2 (l + V-acThI-tanh(btxt)) | |||
-aTactanh(btxt))]1/2 | |||
(14) The term tanh(btxt) | |||
is approximately equal to 1 for uranium tailings thicknesses of 200 cm or more. Also, for almost all uranium tailings applica tions, the desired reduction of radon flux from the cover is significant, so that Jc is much less than the bare tailings flux Jt" In these cases, Equation 14 may be adequately approximated by solving Equation 13 for xc. xc = 4D 7_ X lni t j (15) Further, Equation 15 can be expressed by a nomograph presented in Reference | |||
1. Cover thicknesses determined accurately from the nomograph in Reference | |||
1 are acceptable to the staff if the applicant shows that the tailings are more than 2 meters thick and the required flux attenuation ratio, Jc/it' is less than 0.1. Examples of the cover thickness calculations for a single-layer cover are presented in Appendix A. Although flux and thickness calculations may be performed for multilayer covers using computer programs, the following approximate method will be accepted as an alternative provided the results agree with staff calculations. | |||
This method utilizes successive applications of Equation 13 to individual cover layers with modifications in the source parameters to account for any under lying cover layers. Because Equation 13 does not allow for radon sources (radium) in the cover layer, this approximate method may be applied to multi layer covers, but not to multilayer tailings sources. For multilayer covers, the subscripts cl and c2 are used to denote cover layers 1 and 2. For example, Jcl denotes the radon flux out of layer 1 and J c2 the flux out of layer 2. If 3.64-13 the tailings are less than 2 meters thick, Equation 12 should be used instead of Equation 13. The specific steps in the approximate multilayer cover calcu lation are: 1. Calculate the radon flux through the first cover layer, J c1' using Equation 13 as if there were no other cover layers. 2. Calculate an equivalent source diffusion coefficient, Dt0l for use in analyzing the second cover layer by the following equation: | |||
Dti = Dtexp(-bclxcl) | |||
+ Dcl [1 -exp(-b clXcl)] (16) 3. For two-layer covers, calculate the required thickness of the second layer, Xc2, using Jcl as Jt in Equation 15. Use D as Dt, ncl as nt, and mcl as mt in Equation 11 to define at for Equation 15. The new source term thickness is Xci + xt Examples of the cover thickness calculations for a three-layer system with two cover layers are presented in Appendix A. Should the user wish to use this iterative method for more than three layers, Reference | |||
1 provides the general formulae. | |||
If the user wishes to calculate radon flux and cover thickness for multiple tailings layers for more than three layers total, the NRC staff advises using a computer program. The NRC staff has developed an interactive version of the RAECOM computer program, which has been named the RADON program. The RADON program is documented in Appendix B. | |||
==D. IMPLEMENTATION== | ==D. IMPLEMENTATION== | ||
The purpose of this section is to provide information to applicants and licensees regarding the NRC staff's plans for using this regulatory guide. Except in those cases in which an applicant proposes an acceptable alter native method for complying with specified portions of the Commission's and EPA's regulations, the methods described in this guide will be used in the evaluation of the adequacy of uranium tailings covers proposed in license applications. | |||
3.64-14 APPENDIX A EXAMPLES OF URANIUM TAILINGS COVER THICKNESS | |||
CALCULATIONS | |||
Two examples are presented to illustrate the use of the equations and other guidance in this regulatory guide. The first example is for a single layer cover system, and the second example is for a three-layer cover system. The uses of Equations | |||
13 and 15 are illustrated by the first example. Applica tions of the approximate multilayer method defined by Equations | |||
12 through 16 are illustrated by the second example. | |||
EXAMPLE 1. SINGLE-LAYER | |||
COVER THICKNESS | |||
CALCULATION | |||
For the first example, the tailings pile has the following typical values: Rt = 400 pCi g-1 Pt = 1.5 g cm-3 E = 0.2 Dt = 1.3xI0-2 cm 2 s-' n = 0.44 wt = 11.7% xt = 300 cm First, the radon flux from the surface of the uncovered tailings is calculated from Equation 9: J t = (104 cm2m-2)(400)(1.5)(O.2)[(2.1x1O-6)(O.013)])tanh(3.8) | |||
= 198 pCi m-2 s-'3.64-15 Cover material that can be compacted to have the following properties is available: | |||
DC = 7.8x10-3 cm 2 s-1 nc = 0.3 w c= 6.3% Furthermore, it is assumed that mc = mt' Next, the flux attenuation with 2 meters of cover material is calculated from Equation 13: J -2(198)exp[-(2.1 x 10-6/7.8 x 10-3)1/2(200)] | |||
1 + [((0.44)2(0.013))/(( | |||
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Revision as of 17:15, 31 August 2018
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Issue date: | 06/30/1989 |
From: | Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research |
To: | |
References | |
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Download: ML003739876 (45) | |
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
June 1989 REGULATORY
GUIDE OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY
RESEARCH REGULATORY
GUIDE 3.64 (Task WM 503-4) CALCULATION
OF RADON FLUX ATTENUATION
BY EARTHEN URANIUM MILL TAILINGS COVERS USNRC REGULATORY
GUIDES Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the pub lic methods acceptable to the NRC staff of Implementing specific parts of the Commission's regulations, to delineate techniques used by the staff In evaluating specific problems or postulated accidents, or to pro vide guidance to applicants.
Regulatory Guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance with them is not required.
Methods and solutions different from those set out In the guides will be acceptable if they provide a basis for the findings requisite to the Issuance or continu ance of a permit or license by the Commission.
This guide was issued after consideration of comments received from the public. Comments and suggestions for Improvements In these guides are encouraged at all times, and guides will be revised, as ap propriate, to accommodate comments and to reflect new Information or experience.
Written comments may be submitted to the Regulatory Publications Branch, DFIPS, ARM, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washing ton, DC 20555.The guides are issued in the following ten broad divisions:
1. Power Reactors 6. Products 2. Research and Test Reactors
7. Transportation
3. Fuels and Materials Facilities
8. Occupational Health 4. Environmental and Siting 9. Antitrust and Financial Review 5. Materials and Plant Protection
10. General Copies of issued guides may be purchased from the Government Printing Office at the current GPO price. Information on current GPO prices may be obtained by contacting the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082, telephone
(202)275-2060
or (202)275-2171.
Issued guides may also be purchased from the National Technical Infor mation Service on a standing order basis. Details on this service may be obtained by writing NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
A. INTRODUCTION
.....................................................
3.64-1
B. DISCUSSION
.......................................................
3.64-1 1. Determination of Parameters
..................................
3.64-2 2. Cover Thickness Calculations
.................................
3.64-3 C. REGULATORY
POSITION ..............................................
3.64-4 1. Determination of Parameters
..................................
3.64-5 1.1 Fundamental Parameters
......................................
3.64-5 1.1.1 Layer Thicknesses
.........................................
3.64-5 1.1.2 Layer Densities, Specific Gravities, and Porosities
....... 3.64-7 1.1.3 Long-Term Average Moistures
...............................
3.64-8 1.1.4 Radium Activities
.........................................
3.64-10 1.1.5 Radon Diffusion Coefficients
..............................
3.64-10 1.1.6 Radon Emanation Coefficients
..............................
3.64-11 1.1.7 Other Fundamental Parameters
..............................
3.64-11 1.2 Calculated Parameters
.......................................
3.64-11 2. Calculations of Cover Thickness
..............................
3.64-12
D. IMPLEMENTATION
...................................................
3.64-14 APPENDIX A, Examples of Uranium Tailings Cover Thickness Calculations.
3.64-15 APPENDIX B, The RADON Program .........................................
3.64-19 REFERENCES
............................................................
3.64-41 VALUE/IMPACT
STATEMENT
................................................
3.64-42 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1 Cover Design Parameters, Symbols, and Reference Values ...... 3.64-6 1B RADON Program Listing .......................................
3.64-27 2B RADON Program Sample Problem Output .........................
3.64-39 iii
A. INTRODUCTION
The Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of 1978 (Public Law 95-604) gives the NRC responsibility to ensure, through the licensing proc ess, that final disposal of uranium byproduct material (tailings)
is conducted in a way that will protect the public health and safety and the environment.
Public Law 95-604 also requires that uranium tailings disposal conform to stan dards promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The NRC staff is required to analyze the adequacy of uranium tailings covers proposed in li cense applications to meet the EPA rules. The EPA rules in 40 CFR Part 192 require that a cover be designed to produce reasonable assurance that the radon 222 release rate would not exceed 20 pCi m-2 s-1 for a period of 1000 years to the extent reasonably achievable and in any case for at least 200 years when averaged over the disposal area over at least a one-year period. NRC regulations in 10 CFR Part 40 also require that the radon-222 release rate not exceed 20 pCi m-2 s-1 for active (UMTRCA Title II) sites. Alternatively, for inactive (UMTRCA Title I) sites, the EPA rules permit the Department of Energy (DOE) to choose to meet an optional standard for radon concentration of less than 0.5 pCi per liter over background.
This regulatory guide describes methods acceptable to the NRC staff for calculating radon fluxes through earthen covers and for calculating the result ing minimum cover thickness needed to meet NRC and EPA standards.
The guide also suggests methods for obtaining the various parameters used in calculating the radon fluxes and earthen cover thicknesses and suggests default values for certain parameters.
This regulatory guide is applicable to active uranium tailings sites. The NRC staff is using the methods stated in this guide as a basis for review and concurrence of DOE remedial action plans for inactive sites. The guidance is intended to be used for calculating radon flux attenuation by earthen uranium mill tailings covers. The parameter values and examples presented are limited to earthen cover materials, but the diffusion theory and the methods presented are also applicable to man-made materials.
Detailed supporting information for calculating minimum cover thickness is published separately in the "Radon Atten uation Handbook For Uranium Mill Tailings Cover Design," NUREG/CR-3533 (Ref. 1). Any information collection activities mentioned in this regulatory guide are contained as requirements in 10 CFR Part 40, which provides the regulatory basis for this guide. The information collection requirements in 10 CFR Part 40 have been cleared under OMB Clearance No. 3150-0020.
B. DISCUSSION
The design of a cover to reduce radon releases from uranium tailings de pends on the values of a variety of fundamental parameters that characterize the tailings and cover materials.
Once determined, the values of these param eters may be used to calculate the thickness of cover that is required to 3.64-1 reduce the flux of radon from the tailings to any prescribed limit. This guide presents guidance on (1) determining appropriate values of the parameters and (2) exact and approximate methods for calculating radon fluxes for most cover configurations and conditions.
The approximate calculation methods give results similar to those from the exact methods and thus provide for flexibility in performing the cover design calculations.
For multilayer covers, an exact hand calculated solution is not available.
Either an approximate method or a com puter solution must be used for systems with more than two layers.
1. DETERMINATION
OF PARAMETERS
Because the radon flux limit in the EPA standard is given as an average over the entire disposal area over a period of at least one year (40 CFR Part 192), anomalies in position and time may be ignored and estimates of the long-term spatial average for all parameters should be used. Because the EPA limit on radon flux is to apply for a period of at least 200 and up to 1000 years, parameter values should be selected conservatively taking into account potential degradation of the cover over time. Parameters needed to characterize the tailings and cover materials include thickness, density, specific gravity, porosity, moisture, radium activity, radon diffusion coefficient, and radon emanation coefficient (Refs. 1 and 2). Values of some of the parameters such as tailings pile thickness and aver age radium activity can be reasonably estimated for initial license applica tions from mill plans, anticipated average ore grades, and tailings dam design. The most significant parameter affecting the thickness of earthen cover needed to meet the EPA radon flux criterion is the radon diffusion coefficient of the cover. The value of the radon diffusion coefficient is very sensitive to the availability of interconnected air-filled pores and therefore, at moderate to high moisture contents, to the cover moisture content and porosity.
The param eter that introduces the greatest uncertainty into the calculation of earthen cover thickness for radon attenuation is the cover moisture content. The values for the cover and tailings moisture contents, densities, and radon diffusion coefficients are difficult to estimate or measure because long-term moisture changes and settling may occur after the installation of a cover system. There fore, conservative values of these parameters measured under similar long-term conditions or conservative predictive correlations of these parameters with the significant variables may be needed. Specific guidance with respect to measur ing each parameter is detailed in the regulatory position of this guide. For each parameter, the applicant will provide information describing the test method, its precision and accuracy, and its applicability for representing a long-term, large-area conservative average.
Although accurate site-specific measurements of all parameters would be ideal, the uncertainties, costs, and reliability of such measurements may make the use of default values or conservative correlation predictions a reasonable and satisfactory alternative.
However, the applicant should recognize that careful measurement of parameter values may be justified by savings in the cost of covering the tailings.
The NRC staff has selected default values with the intent that minimum cover thicknesses calculated using default parameters will be equal to or greater than thicknesses calculated using measured parameters.
If reasonable evidence indicates that default values or correlation predictions may not be conservative or realistic for a site, the applicant should measure the parameter values for which default values could be nonconservative.
3.64-2 An important factor in the long-term performance of a tailings cover system is its ability to remain free of defects over long time periods. Centimeter scale defects caused by soil shrinkage, erosion cracks, erosion piping, animal burrows, and former root channels that are deeply penetrating and relatively frequent could cause a significant loss in cover performance (Ref. 3). To cause a factor of two increase in radon flux, cracks must be at least 2 cm wide, must be spaced less than 1 m apart, and must penetrate at least 75% of the cover thickness (Ref.3). Such defects would be easily detected by visual inspection except when covered by riprap (Ref. 3). To promote long-term effectiveness, the staff recommends that smectite clays or other swelling clays, if used, should be well compacted and protected from excessive wetting and drying by additional soil layers. The staff further recommends that well-compacted soils generally be utilized to minimize biointrusion as well as to minimize shrinkage and formation of other defects. Proper surface covering and contouring are also important to reduce erosion. Cover layers such as riprap or topsoil that are used solely for erosion control should not be included in radon flux cal culations.
Likewise, cover material subject to erosion should not be included.
However, the effects of riprap or topsoil on the long-term moisture content of the earthen cover need to be considered.
2. COVER THICKNESS
CALCULATIONS
The basis for the radon flux and minimum cover thickness calculations presented here is one-dimensional steady-state gas diffusion theory (Ref. 1). Only vertical diffusion is considered because the horizontal dimensions of tailings piles are large compared to the typical mean radon diffusion length of at most 1 to 2 meters. Short-term variations are ignored because the regulation addresses the long-term average radon flux. Advective transport, the externally forced movement of radon, also affects radon fluxes, but pri marily over short time periods. For tailings covers, advective effects usually have negligible impacts in comparison to diffusion when averaged over the natural long-term cycles in thermal, barometric, and other advective driving forces (Ref. 4). Advective transport may thus be ignored unless local anomalies are known to cause sustained directional transport of soil gases. The thickness of earthen cover required to reduce radon fluxes to accept able levels depends on the radon source strength of the tailings and on the efficiency of the cover material in reducing the flux. Radioactive decay of radium-226 in tailings and soil produces radon-222, which is an inert, short lived, radioactive gas. Radon diffuses through the soil pore space over average distances defined by its 3.8-day half-life and by its diffusion coefficient.
The flux of radon reaching the atmosphere is reduced by delaying its release because a greater fraction decays in the cover. The delay may be accomplished by increasing the cover thickness, employing a cover material with a lower diffusion coefficient, increasing the cover compaction, or increasing the long-term moisture content of the cover. Thus the diffusion coefficient for radon in the cover material is a key parameter determining its efficiency.
The one-dimensional steady-state diffusion equation appropriate for radon flux determinations (Ref. 1) is: D 2 C -XC + RpEXn 0 ()3.64-3 where D = diffusion coefficient for radon in the total pore space (cm 2 s-') C = radon concentration in the total pore space (pCi cm-3) X = radon decay constant (2.1x1O-6 s-') R = specific activity of radium-226 (pCi g-1) p = dry bulk mass density of soil or tailings (g cm-3) E = radon emanation coefficient (dimensionless)
n = soil or tailings porosity (dimensionless)
Radon flux is related to the radon concentration gradient by: J = -10 4 D dnCx (2) where J = radon flux (pCi m-2 s-') 104 = units conversion (cm 2/m 2) Solutions to Equation 1 are obtained by applying boundary conditions for the system being analyzed and solving for the surface radon flux. For a thick bare tailings source, boundary conditions are typically
(1) a specified or zero radon concentration at the air surface and (2) zero or negative radon flux at the base of the tailings.
For tailings with covers or other systems consisting of layers of different materials, additional boundary conditions for each inter face between layers are (3) continuity in radon concentration and (4) continuity in radon flux. Individual layers should be defined by the occurrence of distinct changes in radium content, soil texture, compaction, or moisture.
The exact solutions to Equations I and 2 can be arranged to calculate di rectly the radon flux for a given set of tailings and cover parameters.
The thickness of cover needed to achieve a specified radon flux can also be deter mined directly.
Specific guidance on the cover thickness calculations is given in the regulatory position.
C. REGULATORY
POSITION The parameter values and equations by which the NRC staff will estimate radon flux and minimum thicknesses for uranium tailings covers are presented below. These equations are appropriate for the design criteria that the staff routinely considers in its evaluations.
3.64-4
1. DETERMINATION
OF PARAMETERS
The design of an adequate tailings cover system depends on the values of several fundamental parameters of the tailings and cover materials.
These include the thicknesses, densities, specific gravities, moistures, radium activities, radon diffusion coefficients, and radon emanation coefficients of the materials.
In addition, several secondary parameters are calculated from the fundamental parameters for simplicity in performing the necessary calcula tions. Examples of secondary parameters are the fractions of moisture satura tion and the radon flux from the uncovered (bare) tailings source. Table 1 lists all of the cover design parameters, their symbols, and reference values or sources of data. Table I and other sections of this guide provide default values that are, by their very nature, conservative.
If the applicant does not elect to use actual measured values, the default values may be used. The applicant may use other values if it can be demonstrated that the use of such values is appropriate.
On the other hand, default values should not be used if the applicant has information or indications that their use would lead to underestimation of the resultant radon flux. An example in point would be to use the default value for E, the radon emanation coefficient, for the case of windblown tailings that may have higher radon emanation rates. 1.1 Fundamental Parameters Because of the difficulty and possible ambiguity in determining represen tative values for the fundamental parameters, sections 1.1.1 through 1.1.7 provide guidance on methods acceptable to the NRC staff for determining their values. 1.1.1 Layer Thicknesses The thickness of the tailings source, xt, will be determined from the applicant's estimates of total tailings production and areal extent of the pile. Because a tailings thickness greater than about 100-200 cm is effectively equivalent to an infinitely thick radon source (Ref. 1), a value of xt = 500 cm represents an equivalent infinitely thick tailings source of radon that may be used in the absence of more specific smaller values. Cover layer thicknesses, 3.64-5 TABLE 1 Cover Design Parameters, Symbols, and Reference Values Symbol Parameter and Units Reference Value Fundamental ,xt, Xc Thickness of tailings (t) and cover (c) xt = 500 Parameters layers (cm) Pt' Pc Dry bulk mass densities of tailings and Pt = 1.6 cover (g cm-3) Pc -measured Pw Mass density of water (g cm-3) Pw= 1 Gt, Gc Specific gravities of tailings and cover Gt = Gc = 2.65 (dimensionless)
wý W c Long-term average moisture content of w t 6 tailings and cover (dry wt. percent) w -measured or estimated Rt, Rc Specific activities of radium-226 in the R = 2812
- U 3 0 8 tailings and cover (pCi g-1) p~rcentage Dt, D Diffusion coefficients for radon in the Equation 7 total pore space of the tailings and cover (cm 2 s-') E Radon emanation coefficient for the E = 0.35 tailings and cover (dimensionless)
A Radon-222 decay constant (s-1) A = 2.1x1O-6 k Equilibrium distribution coefficient for k = 0.26 radon in water and air (pCi cm-3 water per pCi cm-3 air) Jc Radon flux criterion from the cover into J = 20 the atmosphere (pCi m-2 s-1) c Calculated nt, nC Porosities of the tailings and cover measured or Parameters (dimensionless)
Equation 4 mt, mc Moisture saturation fractions in tailings Equation 8 and cover (dimensionless)
J Radon flux from the bare tailings source Equation 9 t (pCi m-2 s-') bt, bc Inverse relaxation lengths for tailings Equation 10 and cover (cm-') at, ac Interface constants for tailings and Equation 11 cover (cm s-1)3.64-6 Xc, must be calculated to satisfy the radon flux criterion but must be suffi ciently thick for the intended application and compaction techniques and for maintaining physical integrity.
1.1.2 Layer Densities, Specific Gravities, and Porosities Bulk dry mass densities for the tailings, pt, and cover, Pc' are related to the specific gravities for the tailings, Gt, and cover, GC, the mass density of water, pw' and the porosities for the tailings, nt, and cover, nc, by the equations Pt = GtPw(1 -nt) PC = GcPw(1 -nc) (3) Likewise, the porosities may be calculated by the equations p P t_ c(4) nt =1 n = G tPw c GcPw Thus only two of the three variables need be determined because the third can be calculated.
However, for greater confidence and reliability, the NRC staff suggests measuring all three variables and cross checking for consistency.
The density of water, pw' is equal to unity and is generally ignored in calcu lations but is required to make the equations dimensionally consistent.
The.. staff will use a default tailings density of Pt = 1.6 g cm-3 unless acceptable documented alternative values are provided by the applicant.
This dry bulk mass density is equivalent to a porosity of 40% at a specific gravity of 2.65, which is the density of quartz. The value of 2.65 for specific gravity is conservative because other common tailings and cover minerals have densities less than or equal to the density of quartz. The use of reference values for tailings parameters is acceptable because radon flux and cover thickness cal culations are more sensitive to cover parameters than to tailings parameters.
The staff recommends that cover materials be compacted to approximately
95% of the maximum dry density as determined by the standard Proctor density test. The staff will accept cover densities properly determined by the standard Proctor test (ASTM-D-698, Ref. 5) for the candidate soils. The staff will use a reference specific gravity of 2.65 for all quartzose tailings and cover materials.
3.64-7 If materials with specific gravities significantly different from quartz are used, acceptable documented alternative values should be provided by the applicant.
Porosities may be measured by mercury porosimetry or other reliable method or determined by Equation 4, which, if reference values for bulk density and spe cific gravity are used, is equivalent to using a default porosity of 40%. 1.1.3 Long-Term Average Moistures The NRC staff considers several methods for predicting the long-term soil moisture content to be acceptable.
An appropriate method is to measure the actual long-term moisture content at the cover material borrow site and to make adjustments, if needed, for differences between the borrow site and the dis posal site. The staff recommends that soil moistures for the candidate cover materials, Wc, be measured from samples obtained from depths of 120 to 500 cm. The term w is the long-term average dry weight percent moisture content of the material.
It is calculated by dividing the weight of free water by the weight of a dried sample. Shallow samples of the soil should be excluded because of the high seasonal variability in their moisture content. Samples close to a water table should also be excluded to avoid biasing the moisture estimate for the tailings cover. Moisture contents may be calculated by computer models of unsaturated flow provided that the models are fully documented and are validated for the range of possible site conditions.
Parameter values used in modelling must be either accurate measured values or reasonable conservative estimates.
Measured and conservative values must be applicable to periods of drought.
Bayer (Ref. 6) has indicated that soil moisture reduced by drainage and evapo-transpiration will eventually approach and may even go beyond the perma nent wilting point. The wilting point is the soil moisture content at which soil can no longer supply water at a rate sufficient to maintain plant life. The tension of the soil water when permanent wilting occurs is about 15 at mospheres (Ref. 6). The NRC staff will accept the moisture content at which permanent wilting occurs as a reasonable value of the long-term moisture con tent. This value may be determined from actual laboratory testing or from estimated empirical relationships such as those determined by Rawls and Brakensiek (Ref. 7). Rawls and Brakensiek conducted a study on 1323 soils with 3.64-8 approximately
5350 horizons and from 32 states. From their data, relationships were derived for predicting soil water retention volumes at matric potentials ranging from 0.04 to 15 bars based on percent sand, silt, and clay, on percent organic matter, on bulk density, and on the 0.33-bar and 15-bar soil water retention values. The accuracy of these equations increases as a greater number of these soil properties are identified.
The empirical relationship established in Reference
7 that predicts volumetric moisture content of the soil corresponding to 15 bars is 0 = 0.026 + 0.005z + 0.0158y (5) where z = % of clay in the soil y = % of organic matter in the soil. Because the 15-bar water retention value, 6, is the permanent wilting point of the soil, the NRC staff considers that this value is a reasonable lower bound for the soil moisture content over the long term. The long-term average dry weight percent moisture of the candidate cover material, Wc, is related to e by the following equation 1 0 0 0 Pw (6) c PC where pw is generally unity. The applicant may use a reference value for wt because the calculation of cover thickness is not nearly as sensitive to the value of the moisture content of the tailings as it is to the moisture content of the cover. If acceptable documented alternative information is not furnished by the applicant, the staff will use a reference value of wt = 6% for the tailings moisture content because 6% is a lower bound for moisture in western soils (Ref. 8).3.64-9
1.1.4 Radium Activities For well-mixed tailings, the average specific radium activity of the tail ings can be determined from the average uranium ore grade of the parent mate rial, assuming secular equilibrium between uranium and radium. In this case, the radium activity should be estimated by multiplying the ore grade by 2812 pCi g-1 radium per percent U 3 0 8.The basis for estimating the average uranium ore grade in units of percent U 3 0 8 should be documented.
Many tailings piles are layered, so the average radium activity of the tailings may not be adequate for determining the radon flux from the uncovered tailings.
Layered tailings that have slimes on top will generally have higher radon fluxes than equivalent well-mixed tailings because tailings slimes generally have much higher radium contents than tailings sands. Therefore, the NRC staff advises in situ measurement of radium activity for nonuniform tailings.
Because the criteria of 40 CFR Part 192 deal only with radon generated by the tailings, the radium activity in the cover soils may be neglected (Rc = 0) for cover design purposes provided the cover soils are obtained from background materials that are not associated with ore formations or other radium-enriched materials.
1.1.5 Radon Diffusion Coefficients If measurements are not available, the staff estimates the radon diffusion coefficients of the tailings, Dt, and cover materials, Dc) from their moisture saturations, m, and porosities, n, using the correlation function D = 0.07exp[-4(m
-mn 2 + M 5)] (7) The moisture saturation fraction, m, is defined in Table 1 and in section 1.2. This correlation is based on numerous radon diffusion measurements in clays, silts, sands, gravels, and mixed earthen materials with compactions generally in the range of 80-105% of standard Proctor maximum dry density (Ref. 2). The effects of long-term fluctuations of the values of the diffusion coefficients should be factored into the values ultimately used. The staff will accept properly measured radon diffusion coefficients for candidate cover soils if adequate documentation of experimental procedures, including documentation of precision and accuracy, is provided.3.64-10
1.1.6 Radon Emanation Coefficients The radon emanation coefficient, E, is the fraction of radon that is re leased from the tailings or soil matrix into the pore space. The reference value of the radon emanation coefficient used by the NRC staff is 0.35 for all materials.
The staff will accept measured or other substantiated values of E provided the applicant uses proper experimental procedure or provides clear documentation.
Nielson et al. (Ref. 9) describe methods of measuring E that, if properly implemented and documented, would be acceptable.
1.1.7 Other Fundamental Parameters The accepted value for the radon decay constant is 2.1xi0-6 s-1.The value of the equilibrium distribution coefficient for radon between air and water that should be used is k = 0.26 pCi cm-3 water per pCi cm-3 air. This is the value of the distribution coefficient at a temperature of 20'C (Ref. 10). 1.2 Calculated Parameters Values of several parameters that occur frequently in cover design and radon flux calculations are generally calculated separately for use in subse quent design calculations.
These include the moisture saturation fraction, m, and the bare source flux, J t" The moisture saturation fraction, m, is the volumetric fraction of satura tion of pore space for the tailings or cover soil. It is calculated by con verting weight percent moisture, w, to the percent of water-filled porosity with the equations 10-2 pt~wt, mt -ntpw 10-2 P cwc mc ncpw where pc' pt, Pw' n, and w are defined in Table 1. A reference value of 1 for the density of water, Pw' is generally used, but for saline pore fluids, higher values would be appropriate.
The radon flux from the bare tailings source and the other calculated parameters are also defined here for use in calculating radon flux, Jc' and 3.64-11 (8)
cover thickness, x .The radon flux from the bare (homogeneous)
tailings source is calculated as it = 104 R tPt
(9) where Rt, Ptý Et Dt0 xt, and X are defined in Table 1 and 104 changes the radon flux units from pCi cm-2 s-1 to pCi m-2 s-1.The inverse relaxation lengths for the tailings, bt, and cover soils, bc, are calculated as bt = 1X_/t, bc =X7 (10) where X and D are defined in Table 1. The respective interface constants at and ac for the tailings and cover soils are calculated as (Ref. 1) 2 2 at n 2 D [1 -(1 -k)mt] or ac =n 2 D [ -(1 -k)m] (11) t t t' c cc c where n, D, and k are defined in Table 1, and m is defined by Equation 8.
2. CALCULATIONS
OF COVER THICKNESS
The applicant should determine the minimum necessary cover thickness by utilizing appropriate estimates of all parameters in one of several equivalent calculation methods. For simple single-layer covers, the radon flux pene trating the cover can be calculated as 2 Jtexp(-bcxc)
(12) I + ýat/actanh(btxt)
+ [1 -
where J t is defined by Equation 9, bt and bc are defined by Equation 10, at and ac are defined by Equation 11, and xt and xc are defined in Table 1 and tanh is the hyperbolic tangent. For thick tailings sources, the hyperbolic tangent term, tanh(btxt), is equal to unity and may be ignored. However, if the tailings are less than 200 cm thick, Equation 12 should be used. For practical applications for which the tailings are more than 200 cm thick and the cover achieves a flux reduction greater than a factor of ten, the following simplified equation is acceptable.
3.64-12
2Jtexp(-bc x) (13) 1 + qIa-t/a~ Equation 12 can be solved for xc xc=1 *n Jc /J t(1 -4_5actanh(btxt0))
b c 1 -[1 -(Jc/Jt)2 (l + V-acThI-tanh(btxt))
-aTactanh(btxt))]1/2
(14) The term tanh(btxt)
is approximately equal to 1 for uranium tailings thicknesses of 200 cm or more. Also, for almost all uranium tailings applica tions, the desired reduction of radon flux from the cover is significant, so that Jc is much less than the bare tailings flux Jt" In these cases, Equation 14 may be adequately approximated by solving Equation 13 for xc. xc = 4D 7_ X lni t j (15) Further, Equation 15 can be expressed by a nomograph presented in Reference
1. Cover thicknesses determined accurately from the nomograph in Reference
1 are acceptable to the staff if the applicant shows that the tailings are more than 2 meters thick and the required flux attenuation ratio, Jc/it' is less than 0.1. Examples of the cover thickness calculations for a single-layer cover are presented in Appendix A. Although flux and thickness calculations may be performed for multilayer covers using computer programs, the following approximate method will be accepted as an alternative provided the results agree with staff calculations.
This method utilizes successive applications of Equation 13 to individual cover layers with modifications in the source parameters to account for any under lying cover layers. Because Equation 13 does not allow for radon sources (radium) in the cover layer, this approximate method may be applied to multi layer covers, but not to multilayer tailings sources. For multilayer covers, the subscripts cl and c2 are used to denote cover layers 1 and 2. For example, Jcl denotes the radon flux out of layer 1 and J c2 the flux out of layer 2. If 3.64-13 the tailings are less than 2 meters thick, Equation 12 should be used instead of Equation 13. The specific steps in the approximate multilayer cover calcu lation are: 1. Calculate the radon flux through the first cover layer, J c1' using Equation 13 as if there were no other cover layers. 2. Calculate an equivalent source diffusion coefficient, Dt0l for use in analyzing the second cover layer by the following equation:
Dti = Dtexp(-bclxcl)
+ Dcl [1 -exp(-b clXcl)] (16) 3. For two-layer covers, calculate the required thickness of the second layer, Xc2, using Jcl as Jt in Equation 15. Use D as Dt, ncl as nt, and mcl as mt in Equation 11 to define at for Equation 15. The new source term thickness is Xci + xt Examples of the cover thickness calculations for a three-layer system with two cover layers are presented in Appendix A. Should the user wish to use this iterative method for more than three layers, Reference
1 provides the general formulae.
If the user wishes to calculate radon flux and cover thickness for multiple tailings layers for more than three layers total, the NRC staff advises using a computer program. The NRC staff has developed an interactive version of the RAECOM computer program, which has been named the RADON program. The RADON program is documented in Appendix B.
D. IMPLEMENTATION
The purpose of this section is to provide information to applicants and licensees regarding the NRC staff's plans for using this regulatory guide. Except in those cases in which an applicant proposes an acceptable alter native method for complying with specified portions of the Commission's and EPA's regulations, the methods described in this guide will be used in the evaluation of the adequacy of uranium tailings covers proposed in license applications.
3.64-14 APPENDIX A EXAMPLES OF URANIUM TAILINGS COVER THICKNESS
CALCULATIONS
Two examples are presented to illustrate the use of the equations and other guidance in this regulatory guide. The first example is for a single layer cover system, and the second example is for a three-layer cover system. The uses of Equations
13 and 15 are illustrated by the first example. Applica tions of the approximate multilayer method defined by Equations
12 through 16 are illustrated by the second example.
EXAMPLE 1. SINGLE-LAYER
COVER THICKNESS
CALCULATION
For the first example, the tailings pile has the following typical values: Rt = 400 pCi g-1 Pt = 1.5 g cm-3 E = 0.2 Dt = 1.3xI0-2 cm 2 s-' n = 0.44 wt = 11.7% xt = 300 cm First, the radon flux from the surface of the uncovered tailings is calculated from Equation 9: J t = (104 cm2m-2)(400)(1.5)(O.2)[(2.1x1O-6)(O.013)])tanh(3.8)
= 198 pCi m-2 s-'3.64-15 Cover material that can be compacted to have the following properties is available:
DC = 7.8x10-3 cm 2 s-1 nc = 0.3 w c= 6.3% Furthermore, it is assumed that mc = mt' Next, the flux attenuation with 2 meters of cover material is calculated from Equation 13: J -2(198)exp[-(2.1 x 10-6/7.8 x 10-3)1/2(200)]
1 + [((0.44)2(0.013))/((0.3)2(0.0078))]1/2 j -2(198)(3.76x10-
2) 2.893 Jc : 5.1 pCi m-2 s-1 If a greater flux is acceptable, the same calculation can be repeated with smaller cover thicknesses, or the required thickness can be directly calculated from Equation 15. For example, what cover thickness would yield a radon flux of 20 pCi m-2 s-1? This is determined from Equation 15 as: : 1 l 19.8 c 61In 2.893 -0.009 xc = 118 cm EXAMPLE 2. THREE-LAYER
COVER THICKNESS
CALCULATION
The tailings pile described in the first example is to be covered with 0.5 meter of a good quality clay and sufficient overburden to achieve a surface radon flux of 20 pCi m-2 s-'. What thickness of overburden should be used? The basic material parameters are: 3.64-16 D n w m Tailings 0.013 cm 2 s-2 0.44 11.7 0.4 Clay 0.0078 cm 2 s-2 0.30 6.3 0.4 Overburden
0.022 cm 2 s-2 0.37 5.4 0.25 First, the bare tailings flux is the same as before: it = 198 pCi m-2 s-1 Then, calculate the attenuation through the clay component using Equation 13 in the same way as in Example 1. The equation is simplified to: = 2(198)(0.440)
Jcl 2.893 -(0.173) Jcl = 64.1 pCi m-2 s-1 Now, determine the diffusion coefficient for the source term to the overburden (the source is now the tailings and clay) using Equation 16: D ti = D texp(-b cl Xcl) + Dcl[1 -exp(-bclXcl)]
Dti = (0.013)(0.440)
+ (0.0078)(1
-0.440) Dti = 0.0101 cm 2 s-1 The value of Dtl is then substituted for Dt, and Jcl = 64.1 is substituted for Jt in Equation 15, giving: S = 102 In 6.41 Xc2 1.475 + 0.051 Xc2 = 146 cm = overburden thickness The total cover thickness is therefore
146 cm + 50 cm = 196 cm. In this calculation the effective source thickness is assumed to be large enough that tanh(atxt)
is unity. The parameters specified in the above example were also used as example input to the RADON program. The RADON calculations, shown in Appendix B, yield an overburden thickness of 149 cm. Thus the approximate solution of 146 cm is 3 cm less than the exact calculation.
This typical example demon strates that the approximate procedure yields acceptable results.3.64-17 EXAMPLE
3. COMPUTATION
OF SOIL MOISTURES
AND DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENTS
AT THE PERMANENT
WILTING POINT As was mentioned previously, the 15-bar soil moisture retention value is estimated using Equation 5, which is taken from Reference
7: e = 0.026 + O.005z + 0.0158y where z = % of clay in soil y = % of organic matter in soil A candidate soil being considered for a cover material contains approximately
16% clay and 0.5% organics.
Using the above equation:
0 = 0.114 The associated moisture saturation fraction is computed to be: 0.114 ~ m = = 0.29 where we use the reference value of n = 0.40. The radon diffusion coefficient could then be estimated using Equation 7: D = 0.07exp[-4(m
-mn 2 + MS)] D = 0.026 cm 2 s-I The user then proceeds in the manner shown in the previous examples.3.64-18 APPENDIX B THE RADON PROGRAM
1. INTRODUCTION
The RADON computer program, shown in Table iB, is an interactive BASIC version of the FORTRAN computer program RAECOM listed in Reference
1. Refer ence 1 describes the procedures for implementing the RAECOM program and provides examples of its input and output for those who wish to use a FORTRAN program.
The RADON program was designed specifically for interactive use on personal computers.
The program is written for the IBM PC and compatibles.
Minor modifications in input/output parameters may be required for use on other personal computers.
The RADON program calculates the radon concentration and flux at the boundaries of defined layers and calculates the thickness of a cover layer needed to meet a defined flux limit. This appendix is structured to follow the order of operations that is followed in using the RADON program.
1.1 Hardware Requirements The RADON program assumes that the user has, as a minimum, a monochrome or color graphics monitor, a printer, and one disk drive. Input may be entered in teractively or from a diskette file named RNDATA on disk drive A. The inter active input sets up an input file that is recorded as RNDATA on drive A so that, following an initial interactive run, the line editor may be used to vary input parameters without going through the interactive program.
2. CONSTANTS
USED The RADON program uses a radon decay constant of 2.1 x 10.6 s-1, a water/ kL. ir partition coefficient for radon of 0.26, and a specific gravity for tail s and cover materials of 2.65. If the materials have specific gravities
'rntially different from 2.65, both porosity and dry bulk mass density 3.64-19* .--r -
should be entered into the program as measured values, in which case the specific gravity value is not used.
3. INTERACTIVE
INPUT PARAMETERS
3.1 Title of Data Set When prompted, enter the title of the data set, not to exceed 254 char acters, exactly as you want it to appear in the printed output. 3.2 Interactive or Direct Input When prompted, type Y to input interactively or type N to read input from drive A. Do not hit the return key. Either upper or lower case letters may be used. The user is given a choice of using the interactive input program, which gives a detailed printed record of input, or proceeding directly to the calculational part of the program with input that is taken from a diskette file. The interactive program will not accept erroneous input data that violate param eters defined in the program. For example, the program will not allow less than two layers total of cover plus tailings or more than ninety-nine total layers, and it will prompt the user to input again if unacceptable values are entered. However, if erroneous data are entered on the diskette file, they will not be screened again by the program, and the program will either "crash" or produce meaningless results.
3.3 Input Total Number of Layers Following the prompt, enter the total number of layers of cover plus tailings.
3.4 Input Desired Radon Flux Limit Following the prompt, enter the value of radon flux i top boundary.
The default value for the radon flux limits ." which is the EPA flux limit for uranium mill tailings.
The ti¢3.64-20
be selected by entering -1. For problems for which no flux limit is desired, enter 0 (zero). Note that entering zero is not entering a flux of zero. It is entering a flag to the program that there is no flux limit and that the thickness of a cover layer will not be optimized to meet a flux limit. 3.5 Input the Number of the Layer To Undergo Thickness Optimization Enter the number of the layer for which the layer thickness is to be optimized in order to achieve a desired flux value. The layers are numbered starting from the bottom, with the tailings as layer number 1. Therefore, layer 1 cannot be optimized, and optimization cannot be done if a flux limit has not been entered. Enter 0 (zero) if optimization is not desired.
3.6 Input Radon Concentration Above Top Layer When prompted, enter the radon concentration above the top layer (in pico curies per liter). This concentration is generally the value of the soil/air interface, and a default value of 0 (zero) is assigned by entering any value less than or equal to 0. If a value for the radon concentration at the soil/air interface were measured, it could be entered, but for tailings covers, a value of 0 is conservative and is recommended.
3.7 Input Lower Boundary Radon Flux When prompted, enter the value for radon flux (in picocuries per square meter per second) into the soil layer beneath the tailings.
For most tailings situations, this value can be considered to be zero, but for the case of a thin tailings layer, this downward flux would reduce the amount of radon available for upward diffusion.
Enter -1 to calculate the radon flux out of the tailings into an infinitely thick subsoil with no radon source and to adjust the source of radon available for upward diffusion accordingly.
3.8 Input Surface Flux Precision When prompted, enter the value for the acceptable level of numerical precision in the radon surface flux computations (in picocuries per meter 3.64-21 squared per second). The number that should be entered is the level of com putation error that is acceptable to the user between 0 (zero) and 1. The program assumes that values greater than 1 are unacceptably high. The user is cautioned that computation time increases as the value approaches zero. 4. LAYER INPUT PARAMETERS
The RADON program will enter a loop that will prompt for input parameter values that define each layer in the tailings and cover system starting from the bottom layer of the system. 4.0 Input Material Type Name the layer. 4.1 Input Thickness Enter the thickness of the layer in centimeters.
4.2 Input Porosity Enter the measured porosity (unitless).
The measured porosity must be between 0 (zero) and 1. Enter -1 to choose a default value of 0.40 or enter a value greater than one to calculate porosity based on a specific gravity of 2.65 and a measured value of bulk density.
4.3 Input Mass Density If the dry bulk mass density was measured, enter a density value between 0.5 and 3 g cm-3.Otherwise enter -1 to calculate the mass density of the layer based on the porosity and a specific gravity of 2.65. If the dry bulk density was measured in engineering units in terms of pounds (weight) per cubic foot, the bulk density value should be divided by 62.43, which is the weight in pounds of 1 cubic foot of water.3.64-22
4.4 Type S for Source Term, G For Ore Grade, or R for Radium Activity The user is given a choice of ways to enter the radon source term for the layer. Type S, G, or R to choose to enter the source term, to calculate it from the uranium ore grade, or to calculate it from the radium activity, respectively.
4.4.1 Input Ore Grade Percentage If G is selected, a prompt to enter the ore grade percentage of U 3 0 8 will follow. The value entered must be between 0 and 100. 4.4.2 Input Radium Activity If R is selected, a prompt to enter the radium activity of the layer in picocuries per gram of tailings or soil will follow. 4.4.3 Input Source Term If S is selected, a prompt to enter the radon source term for the layer in picocuries per cubic centimeter per second will follow. This input option would be used when measurements of the radon source term from the layer are available.
4.5 Input Emanation Coefficient Following the prompt, enter the value of the radon emanation coefficient (unitless).
Enter -1 to use the default value, which is 0.35. 4.6 Input Weight Percent Moisture Following the prompt, enter the value of the weight percent moisture.
This value is the weight of "free" water divided by the total weight of a dried sample. Negative values and values greater than 100 will not be accepted because they are meaningless.
A calculation will be made to determine the moisture saturation fraction (the fraction of available pore space occupied by water). If the moisture saturation fraction is greater than 100%, which is physically impossible, a prompt will appear to enter an acceptable weight per cent moisture value. The weight percent moisture of the layer must be entered whether the diffusion coefficient is measured or calculated.
3.64-23
4.7 Input Diffusion Coefficient Following the prompt, enter either the measured diffusion coefficient or -1 to use the default calculation of the diffusion coefficient using equation 7 as described in Regulatory Position 1.1.5. The diffusion coefficient is the final input parameter needed for the layer. The program will prompt for input for layer 2 and so on up to the maximum layer number in the same way as for layer 1. 5. INPUT DATA STORAGE 5.1 Save Data File, Erase Backup Data File The program has a built-in procedure to save the input data file on disk drive A. This feature allows the program to be rerun without going through the data entry steps. If an error is made in data entry, the data may be easily corrected using the EDLIN program or other editing programs.
Likewise, if the user wishes to analyze the effects of varying a parameter, the EDLIN program can be used to modify the input data without going through the data entry procedures.
A formatted floppy diskette with available storage space must be placed in disk drive A for the program to proceed. If the user wishes to write to a hard disk, the user will need to change "A:" to "C:" in lines 1550, 1600, 1620, 1720, and 1750. The file saved on the floppy diskette will appear like the data in Table 2B under the heading "DATA SENT TO THE FILE 'RNDATA' ON DRIVE A:" None of the headings are recorded on the saved file nor are the layer numbers under the heading "LAYER." The headings in this portion of Table 2B are explained as follows: N = number of layers FOI = radon flux into layer 1 CN1 = surface radon concentration ICOST = the number of the layer to be optimized CRITJ = desired radon flux limit ACC = surface flux precision DX = layer thickness D = layer diffusion coefficient
3.64-24 P = layer porosity Q = layer source term XMS = layer moisture saturation fraction RHO = layer density If any key other than N is typed, the input data set will be saved. If N is typed, the program will go directly to the calculations without saving the data set on disk drive A. The data set is filed under the name RNDATA. If a second data set is entered, the first data set is renamed RNDATA.BAK, and the second set is named RNDATA. Entering more than two data sets will result in erasing RNDATA.BAK, so the user should rename RNDATA.BAK
if it is to be saved. Once the RNDATA file is created, minor changes in input values can be made by using EDLIN or an editing program. A "hard" copy of the contents of the RNDATA file is part of the printed output. 6. METHODS OF COMPUTATION
The RADON program uses the computational procedures of the RAECOM program, which is listed in Reference
1 and documented in Reference
11. The diffusion equation is solved for a system of simultaneous equations for radon flux and concentration by the Gaussian elimination method. A recursion method is used to optimize the cover thickness to meet the desired radon flux. 7. OUTPUT Table 2B displays the printed output of the RADON program for the three layer sample problem in Appendix A and Reference
1. The printed output displays the constants used by the program, the general input parameters, the layer input parameters, including the default or calculated layer input parameters, the data saved on the floppy disk file, the calculated bare source term flux from layer 1, and the results from the radon diffusion calculations.
The data for many of the output parameters are printed in the exponential format in which D is used to denote the base 10 exponent rather than the usual E because D is the notation in double-precision BASIC. Note that, for the sample problem, the input thickness for layer 3 is 100 cm, but the output thickness is 149 cm S>because layer 3 was specified to be adjusted so that the output radon flux would be 20 pCi m-2 s-'.3.64-25 A very slight difference exists between the sample problem results shown here and those in Reference
1 because the specific gravity in Reference
1 was specified to be 2.7 whereas 2.65 is used in the RADON program. Exact agreement between Reference
1 and the RADON program would result if the same specific gravities were used. Modifications such as changing the specific gravity may be made very easily by the user because the BASIC interpreter may be used and because items in the interactive part of the program are labeled.3.64-26 TABLE 1B RADON Program Listing 10 KEY OFF : COLOR 15,1,0 : CLS 20 PRINT " ***** RADON !***** ......" :PRINT 30 PRINT "Version 1.2 -May 22, 1989 -G.F. Birchard -tel.# (301)492-7000" 40 PRINT "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Research" : PRINT 50 PRINT " RADON FLUX, CONCENTRATION
AND TAILINGS COVER THICKNESS", 60 PRINT " ARE CALCULATED
FOR MULTIPLE LAYERS" : PRINT 70 ON ERROR GOTO 90 80 GOTO 120 90 PRINT "CHECK THE PRINTER & PRESS ANY KEY TO CONTINUE" 100 V$=INPUT$(1)
110 RESUME NEXT 120 LPRINT " *****! RADON !***** -----" : LPRINT 130 LPRINT "Version 1.2 -May 22, 1989 -G.F. Birchard tel.# (301)492-7000" 140 LPRINT "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Research" : LPRINT 150 ON ERROR GOTO 0 160 LPRINT " RADON FLUX, CONCENTRATION
AND TAILINGS COVER THICKNESS", 170 LPRINT " ARE CALCULATED
FOR MULTIPLE LAYERS" : LPRINT 180 INPUT "TITLE OF THIS DATA SET";TITLE$
- LPRINT :LPRINT TITLE$ :LPRINT 190 DEFDBL A-H,O-Z : DEFINT I-N 200 DIM D(50),DX(50),P(50),Q(50),XM(99)
'INPUT VARIABLES
210 DIM AB(50),AIPZMI(50),ALP(50),RHO(50),X(50),XMS(99)
'COMPUTATION
VARIABLES
220 DIM A4(50),DDX(50),RC(50),RF(50)
'OUTPUT VARIABLES
230 DIM A(245),AT(50),B(99),BS(50),BU(99),G(245),R(50),RR(50),T(50),U(50)
'MATRIX VARIABLES
240 XL=.0000021#
- PC=.26# : GCT=2.65#
'CONSTANTS
250 PRINT "TYPE Y TO INPUT INTERACTIVELY
OR N TO READ INPUT FROM DRIVE A:" 260 W$=INPUT$(1)
270 IF W$="y" OR W$"Y" GOTO 290 280 IF W$="N" OR W$"n" GOTO 1750 ELSE 250 290 LPRINT :LPRINT " ","CONSTANTS" :LPRINT 300 PRINT :PRINT " ","CONSTANTS" :PRINT 310 LPRINT "RADON DECAY CONSTANT"," ".,XL,"s--1" 320 PRINT "RADON DECAY CONSTANT", ",XL,"s--1" 330 LPRINT "RADON WATER/AIR
PARTITION
COEFFICIENT",PC
3.64-27
340 PRINT "RADON WATER/AIR
PARTITION
COEFFICIENT",PC
350 LPRINT "SPECIFIC
GRAVITY OF COVER & TAILINGS",GCT
- LPRINT 360 PRINT "SPECIFIC
GRAVITY OF COVER & TAILINGS",GCT
- PRINT 370 PRINT " ","GENERAL
INPUT PARAMETERS" : PRINT 380 LPRINT LPRINT " ","GENERAL
INPUT PARAMETERS" : LPRINT 390 PRINT "ENTER -1 TO USE DEFAULT VALUES WHICH ARE SPECIFIED
IF THEY EXIST." 400 INPUT "NUMBER OF LAYERS OF COVER AND TAILINGS";N
410 IF N<2 GOTO 420 ELSE IF N>99 GOTO 430 ELSE 440 420 PRINT "TWO LAYERS MINIMUM PLEASE" : GOTO 400 430 PRINT "NINETY-NINE
LAYERS MAXIMUM PLEASE" : GOTO 400 440 LPRINT "LAYERS OF COVER AND TAILINGS",N
- GOTO 460 450 PRINT "THE LAYER THICKNESS
CANNOT BE OPTIMIZED
WITHOUT A FLUX LIMIT" 460 INPUT "RADON FLUX LIMIT (pCi m_-2 s_-1) default=20, no limit=O";CRITJ
470 IF CRITJ<O# THEN CRITJ=20#
- PRINT "DEFAULT FLUX LIMIT ASSIGNED" 480 IF CRITJ=O THEN LPRINT "NO LIMIT ON RADON FLUX" : GOTO 510 490 LPRINT "DESIRED RADON FLUX LIMIT"," ",CRITJ,"pCi m--2 s_-i" :GOTO 510 500 PRINT "THE LAYER NUMBER CANNOT EXCEED THE NUMBER OF LAYERS. 510 INPUT "THE LAYER NUMBER FOR THICKNESS
OPIMIZATION
O=no optimization";ICOST
520 IF CRITJ=O AND ICOST>O GOTO 450 530 IF ICOST=O THEN LPRINT "LAYER THICKNESS
NOT OPTIMIZED" :GOTO 570 540 IF ICOST<=I THEN PRINT "THE LOWEST LAYER CANNOT BE OPTIMIZED" :GOTO 510 550 IF ICOST>N GOTO 500 560 LPRINT "NO. OF THE LAYER TO BE OPTIMIZED",ICOST
570 INPUT "RADON CONCENTRATION
ABOVE TOP LAYER (pCi 1f-1) default=O";CN1
580 IF CN1<0 THEN CN1ZO 590 IF CN1ZO THEN LPRINT "DEFAULT SURFACE RADON CONCENTRATION"',CN1,"pCi f--i" 600 IF CNI>O THEN LPRINT "MEASURED
SURFACE RADON CONCENTRATION",CN1,"pCi
1f-i" 610 INPUT "LOWER BOUNDARY RADON FLUX (pCi m_-2 s_-1) default-calculation";FO1
620 IF F01=-1 GOTO 630 ELSE 650 630 PRINT "LOWER BOUNDARY FLUX TO BE CALCULATED
ASSUMING AN INFINITE SUBSOIL 640 GOTO 660 650 LPRINT "RADON FLUX INTO LAYER 1"," ",FO1,"pCi m_-2 s_--" 660 INPUT "SURFACE FLUX PRECISION (pCi m--2 s--1) This number is the acceptable level of computation error.";ACC
670 IF I<ACC OR ACC<O GOTO 680 ELSE 700 3.64-28
680 PRINT "THE SURFACE FLUX PRECISION
SHOULD BE BETWEEN 0 AND 1" "690 GOTO 660 700 LPRINT "SURFACE FLUX PRECISION"," ",ACC,"pCi m--2 s"-1" 710 PRINT PRINT " ","LAYER INPUT PARAMETERS" : PRINT 720 LPRINT LPRINT : LPRINT " ","LAYER INPUT PARAMETERS" :LPRINT 730 FOR I=1 TO N 740 PRINT USING "LAYER #";I PRINT :PRINT : INPUT "MATERIAL
TYPE"; MT$ 750 LPRINT USING "LAYER #";I, : LPRINT " " MT$ : LPRINT LPRINT 760 INPUT "THICKNESS (cm)";DX(I)
770 IF DX(I)<O THEN PRINT "THE THICKNESS
CANNOT BE NEGATIVE" GOTO 760 780 LPRINT "THICKNESS"," ",DX(I),"cm" 790 INPUT "POROSITY
default =.40. Enter a value >1 to calculate porosity ";P(I) 800 IF P(I)>1 GOTO 820 ELSE IF P(I)=-1 GOTO 880 ELSE IF P(I)<O GOTO 890 810 GOTO 910 820 INPUT "MASS DENSITY(G
CM--3)";RHO(I)
830 IF RHO(I)<.5 OR RHO(I)>3 GOTO 840 ELSE 860 840 PRINT "ACCEPTABLE
DENSITY VALUES ARE BETWEEN 0.5 AND 3. PLEASE REENTER" 850 GOTO 820 860 P(I)=1-RHO(I)/GCT:
LPRINT "CALCULATED
POROSITY "," "," "" 870 LPRINT USING "#.###"; P(I) :GOTO 980 880 P(I)=.4# : LPRINT "DEFAULT POROSITY"," ",P(I) : GOTO 920 890 PRINT "THE POROSITY VALUE CANNOT BE NEGATIVE.
PLEASE REENTER." 900 GOTO 790 910 LPRINT "POROSITY
"," "," ",P(I) 920 INPUT "MASS DENSITY (G/CM--3)
default-calculated";RHO(I)
930 IF RHO(I)=-1 GOTO 940 ELSE IF RHO(I)<.5 OR RHO(I)>3 GOTO 960 ELSE 980 940 RHO(I)=GCT*(1-P(I))
950 LPRINT "CALCULATED
MASS DENSITY"," ",RHO(I),"g cm--3" : GOTO 990 960 PRINT "ACCEPTABLE
DENSITY VALUES ARE BETWEEN 0.5 AND 3. PLEASE REENTER" 970 GOTO 920 980 LPRINT "MEASURED
MASS DENSITY"," ",RHO(I),"g cm -3" 990 PRINT "CHOOSE TO ENTER EITHER THE RADON SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION
THE ORE GRADE % OR RADIUM ACTIVITY" 1000 PRINT "TYPE S FOR SOURCE TERM G FOR ORE GRADE OR R FOR RADIUM ACTIVITY" 3.64-29
1010 QQ$=INPUT$(1)
1020 IF QQ$="S" GOTO 1230 ELSE IF QQ$="s" GOTO 1230 . 1030 IF QQ$="G" GOTO 1060 ELSE IF QQ$="g" GOTO 1060 1040 IF QQ$="R" GOTO 1100 ELSE IF QQ$="r" GOTO 1100 ELSE 1000 1050 PRINT "THE ORE GRADE % MUST BE BETWEEN 0 AND 100. PLEASE REENTER" 1060 INPUT "ORE GRADE PERCENTAGE";OG
1090 LPRINT "CALCULATED
RADIUM ACTIVITY"," ",RA,"pCi g--l" :GOTO 1130 1100 INPUT "RADIUM ACTIVITY (pCi g--1)";RA
1110 IF RA<O THEN PRINT "THE RADIUM ACTIVITY CANNOT BE NEGATIVE" :GOTO 1100 1120 LPRINT "MEASURED
RADIUM ACTIVITY"," ",RA,"pCi/g--l" 1130 INPUT "EMANATION
COEFFICIENT
default=.35";E
1140 IF E=-1 GOTO 1150 ELSE IF E<O OR E>I GOTO 1160 ELSE 1180 1150 E=.35# : LPRINT "DEFAULT LAYER EMANATION
COEFFICIENT",E
- GOTO 1190 1160 PRINT "THE EMANATION
COEFFICIENT
MUST BE BETWEEN 0 AND 1." 1170 GOTO 1130 1180 LPRINT "MEASURED
EMANATION
COEFFICIENT",E
1190 Q(I)=XL*RA*E*RHO(I)/P(I)
1200 PRINT "CALCULATED
SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION",Q(I)
1210 LPRINT "CALCULATED
SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION", 1220 LPRINT USING "##.###----
";Q(I), :LPRINT "pCi cm--3 s--l" :GOTO 1270 1230 INPUT "SOURCE TERM (pCi cm--3 s--l)";Q(I)
1240 IF Q(I)<O GOTO 1250 ELSE 1260 1250 PRINT "THE SOURCE TERM CANNOT BE NEGATIVE." :GOTO 1230 1260 LPRINT "MEASURED
SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION",Q(I),"pCi cm--3 s--l" 1270 INPUT "WEIGHT % MOISTURE";XM(I)
1280 IF XM(I)<O OR XM(I)>100
GOTO 1290 ELSE 1310 1290 PRINT "THE WEIGHT % MOISTURE MUST BE BETWEEN 0 AND 100. " 1300 GOTO 1270 1310 LPRINT "WEIGHT % MOISTURE"," ", XM(I), "I%"i 1320 XMS(I)=.O1*XM(I)*RHO(I)/P(I)
1330 LPRINT "MOISTURE
SATURATION
FRACTION", :LPRINT USING " .###";XMS(I)
1340 IF XMS(I)>1!
GOTO 1350 ELSE 1370 1350 PRINT "THE MOISTURE CONTENT IS >100% SATURATION.
PLEASE REENTER." 3.64-30
1360 LPRINT "MOISTURE
SATURATION
>100%. NEW VALUE REQUESTED." :GOTO 1270 1370 INPUT "DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT (cm&-2 s--l) default=calculated
";D(I) 1380 IF D(I)=-I GOTO 1410 ELSE IF D(I)<O OR D(I)>I GOTO 1390 ELSE 1440 1390 PRINT "REENTER DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT
VALUES BETWEEN 0 AND 1. 1400 GOTO 1370 1410 D(I)=.07*EXP(-4*(XMS(I)-XMS(I)*P(I)*P(I)+XMS(I)-5))
1420 LPRINT "CALCULATED
DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT", 1430 LPRINT USING "##.### .. ";D(I), :LPRINT "cm-2 s--l" :GOTO 1450 1440 LPRINT "MEASURED
DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT",D(I),"cm-2 s--l" 1450 PRINT : PRINT : LPRINT : LPRINT 1460 IF I=2 OR I=5 AND N=5 OR I=6 OR 1>8 THEN LPRINT CHR$(12) 1470 NEXT I 1480 ON ERROR GOTO 1500 1490 GOTO 1510 1500 IF ERR=53 GOTO 1540 1510 PRINT "THE BACKUP FILE RNDATA.BAK
WILL BE REPLACED IF IT EXISTS UNLESS N IS TYPED. TYPE ANY OTHER KEY TO CONTINUE.
IF N IS TYPED THE INPUT DATA WILL NOT BE SAVED." 1520 V$=INPUT$(1)
1530 IF V$="N" OR V$="n" GOTO 1980 ELSE GOTO 1550 1540 RESUME NEXT 1550 KILL "A:RNDATA.BAK" 1560 ON ERROR GOTO 1580 1570 GOTO 1600 1580 IF ERR=53 THEN PRINT "BACKING UP RNDATA" 1590 RESUME NEXT 1600 NAME "A:RNDATA" AS "A:RNDATA.BAK" 1610 ON ERROR GOTO 0 1620 OPEN "A:RNDATA" FOR OUTPUT AS #2 1630 PRINT #2,USING " ##.# ";N; 1640 PRINT #2,USING " ##-.### ..";FO1;CN1;
1650 PRINT #2,USING " ##.# ";ICOST; 1660 PRINT #2,USING " ##.### ---- ";CRITJ;ACC
1670 FOR 1=1 TO N 1680 PRINT #2,USING " ##.### ...";DX(I);D(I);P(I);Q(I);XMS(I);RHO(I)
1690 NEXT I 3.64-31 CLOSE #2 LPRINT :LPRINT :LPRINT LPRINT " ","DATA SENT TO THE FILE "RNDATA' ON DRIVE A:" :LPRINT GOSUB 1850 GOTO 1980 OPEN "A:RNDATA" FOR INPUT AS #3 INPUT #3,N,F01,CNI,ICOST,CRITJ,ACC
FOR I=1 TO N INPUT #3,DX(I),D(I),P(I),Q(I),XMS(I),RHO(I)
1700 1710 1720 1730 1740 1750 1760 1770 1780 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 NEXT I LPRINT RETURN ' END;CN1;ACC" XMS: IF N=4 OR N=8 OR N>11 THEN LPRINT CHR$(12) 'END PRINT SUBROUTINE
DATA INPUT MODULE BEGIN RAECOM MODULE N03=O IF ICOST>O THEN NO3=ICOST
- ICOST=I ITHK=0 NO2=N03-1
- NO1=N02-1
- NO4=N03+1 NM1=N-1 : NM2=N-2 : JTST=I 3.64-32 NEXT I CLOSE #3 LPRINT :LPRINT :LPRINT LPRINT " ","DATA INPUT TO DIFFUSION
CALCULATIONS" : LPRINT GOSUB 1850 GOTO 1980 ' PRINT SUBROUTINE
LPRINT " N F01 CN1 ICOST CRITJ LPRINT USING "### ";N; LPRINT USING " ##.### ...";F01 LPRINT USING " ### ";ICOST; LPRINT USING " ##.### ---- ";CRITJ;ACC
- LPRINT LPRINT "LAYER DX D P Q RHO " FOR I=1 TO N LPRINT USING "### ";I; LPRINT USING " ##.### ---- ";DX(I);D(I);P(I);Q(I);XMS(I);
LPRINT USING "###.###";RHO(I)
2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 2090 2100 2110 2120 2130 2140 2150 2160 2170 2180 2190 2200 2210 2220 2230 2240 2250 2260 2270 2280 2290 2300 2310 2320 2330 2340 2350 2360 2370 2380 2390 TANH=-1 :RETURN 'END OF SUBROUTINE
TANH RF(1)=(Q(1)*P(1)/AB)*TANH
IF F01=-1 GOTO 2300 ELSE 2320 RF(1)=RF(1)/(1+(.5*TANH)/.5/(EXP(V)+EXP(-V)))
FO =-.5*RF(1)*TANH
DDX(1)=DX(1)
RC(1)=CN/A4(1)
JO#=-RF(1)*10000
PRINT : LPRINT PRINT USING "BARE SOURCE FLUX FROM LAYER 1: ##.### ---- pCi m--2 s'-1";JO#
LPRINT USING "BARE SOURCE FLUX FROM LAYER 1: ##.### ---- pCi m-2 s--l";JO#
PRINT "calculation in progress" FOR I=1 TO N 3.64-33 FO=FO1/10000
CN=CN1/1000
CRITJ=CRITJ/10000
FOR I=1 TO N A4(I)=1-.
74*XMS(I)
NEXT I AB=SQR(XL/D(1))
V=AB*DX(1)
GOSUB 2140 GOTO 2280 IF V<-9.01 GOTO 2260 'THIS SUBROUTINE
CALCULATES
TANH IF V<-.7 THEN GOTO 2240 IF ABS(V)<=2--12 THEN GOTO 2200 IF ABS(V)<=.7 THEN GOTO 2210 IF V<=9.01 THEN GOTO 2220 IF V>9.01 THEN GOTO 2230 TANH:V :RETURN TANH=V*(1-V-2*(.0037828+.
8145651/(V"2+2.471749)))
- RETURN TANH=1-2/(EXP(V)*EXP(V)+I)
- RETURN TANH=1 :RETURN V=-V TANH=-(1-2/(EXP(V)*EXP(V)+1)):
RETURN V=-V
2400 Q(I)=Q(I)*P(I)
2410 P(I)=F(!)*A4(1)
2420 D(I)=D(I)*P(I)
2430 NEXT I 2440 DDX(1)=DX(1)
2450 ALP(1)=SfR(XL*P(1)/D(1))
2460 FOR I=2 TO N 'THICKNESS
OPTIMIZATION
FEEDS BACK HERE 2470 DDX(I)=DX(I)
2480 NEXT I 2490 ' MODIFY PARAMETERS
FOR PROGRAM LIMITS 2500 SUMX=O : SUMA=O : SUMAX=O : XRED=O : XCHG=O : X(1)=O XO=O 2510 SUMMAX=ALP(1)*DX(1)
2520 IF SUMMAX>4.61 THEN XRED=4.61/ALP(1)
ELSE GOTO 2550 2530 FO=FO*EXP(4.61-SUMMAX)
2540 SUMMAX=ALP(1)*(DX(1)-XRED)
2550 IF XRED>O THEN XCHG=DX(1)-XRED
2560 FOR I=1 TO N 2570 ALPI=SQR(XL*P(I)/D(I))
2580 SUMX=SUMX+DX(I)
2590 X(I+1)=SUMX-XCHG
2600 SUMA=SUMA+ALPI
2610 ALSUMALPI*X(I+I)
2620 IF ALSUM>SUMMAX
THEN SUMMAX=ALSUM
2630 SUMAX=SUMAX+ALSUM
2640 ALP(I)=ALPI
2650 NEXT I 2660 IF SUMMAX>174 GOTO 2670 ELSE 2690 2670 LPRINT "THE LAYER THICKNESS
OR DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT
EXCEEDS LIMITS" 2680 LPRINT 2690 IF SUMMAX>87 THEN XO=SUMAX/SUMA
- ELSE GOTO 2730 2700 FOR I=0 TO N 2710 X(I+1)=X(I+1)-XO
2720 NEXT I 2730 ' CALCULATE
PARAMETERS
FOR MATRIX 2740 FOR 1=1 TO NM1 2750 RDUM:SQR(P(I+1)*D(I+I)/(P(I)*D(I)))
3.64-34 R(I)=-.5*(l-RDUM)
RR(I)=-.5*(l+RDUM)
QP=(Q(I+1)/P(I+1)-Q(I)/P(I))/XL
T(I)=QP*EXP(-ALP(I)*X(I+1))
U(I)=QP*.5*EXP(ALP(I)*X(I+1))
AIPIMI(I)=SQR(XL)*(SQR(P(I+1)/D(I+1))-SQR(P(I)/D(I)
NEXT I ALP(N)=SQR(XL*P(N)/D(N))
'SPECIFY MATRIX ELEMENTS AND SOLVE FOR I=l TO NM1 J=5*I-4 K=2*I-I A(J)=EXP(-2*ALP(I)*X(I+1))
A(J+1)=-EXP(AIPlMI(I)*X(I+1))
A(J+2)=-EXP(-(ALP(I+1)+ALP(I))*X(I+1))
A(J+3)=R(I)*EXP((ALP(I+1)+ALP(I))*X(I+l))
A(J+4)=RR(I)*EXP(-AIPlMI(I)*X(I+1))
B(K)=T(I)
B(K+1)=U(I)
NEXT I -N5M4--5*N-4 A(N5M4)=EXP(-2*ALP(N)*X(N+1))
N2Ml=2*N-1 B(N2Ml)=(CN-Q(N)/(P(N)*XL))*EXP(-ALP(N)*X(N+I))
'UPPER TRIANGULARIZE
MATRIX G(1)=A(1)+EXP(-2*ALP(1)*X(l))
G(2)=A(2)/G(l)
G(3)=A(3)/G(l)
BU(1)=(B(1)+FO*EXP(-ALP(1)*X(l))/(D(1)*ALP(l)))/G(l)
FOR I=l TO NM2 J=5*I-I K--2*I G(J)=A(J)-G(J-2)
G(J+1)=(A(J+1)-G(J-1))/G(J)
BU(K)=(B(K)-BU(K-1))/G(J)
G(J+2)=A(J+2)-G(J+l)
2760 2770 2780 '7790 2800 2810 2820 2830 2840 2850 2860 2870 2880 2890 2900 2910 2920 2930 2940 2950 2960 2970 2980 2990 3000 3010 3020 3030 3040 3050 3060 3070 3080 3090 3100 3110 3.64-35
3120 G(J+3)=A(J+3)/G(J+2)
3130 G(J+4)=A(J+4)/G(J+2)
3140 BU(K+1)=(B(K+1)-BU(K))/G(J+2)
3150 NEXT I 3160 N5M6=5*N-6
3170 G(N5M6)=A(N5M6)-G(N5M6-2)
3180 G(N5M6+1)=(A(N5M6+1)-G(N5M6-1))/G(N5M6)
3190 N2M2=2*N-2
3200 BU(N2M2)=(B(N2M2)-BU(N2M2-1))/G(N5M6)
3210 G(N5M6+2)=A(N5M6+2)-G(N5M6+1)
3220 BS(N)=(B(N2M1)-BU(N2MI-1))/G(N5M6+2)
3230 AT(N)=BU(N2MI-1)-G(N5M6+1)*BS(N)
3240 FOR I=1 TO NM2 3250 J=5*(N-I)-3
3260 K=2*(N-I)-I
3270 L=N-I 3280 BS(L)=BU(K)-G(J)*AT(L+1)-G(J+1)*BS(L+I)
3290 AT(L)=BU(K-1)-G(J-2)*BS(L)
3300 NEXT I 3310 BS(1)=BU(1)-G(2)*AT(2)-G(3)*BS(2)
3320 AT(1)=(BS(1)*EXP(-ALP(1)*X(1))'FO/(ALP(1)*D(1)))*EXP(-ALP(1)*X(l))
3330 'COMPLETE
MATRIX SOLUTION 3340 FOR I=1 TO N 3350 ALPI=ALP(I)*X(I+I)
3360 ASI=AT(I)*EXP(ALPI)
3370 BSI=BS(I)*EXP(-ALPI)
3380 RC(I)=ASI+BSI+Q(I)/(P(I)*XL)
3390 RF(I)=-D(I)*ALP(I)*(ASI-BSI)
3400 NEXT I 3410 RC(N)=CN 3420 IF ICOST=O GOTO 3800 3430 FOP=FO 3440 IF FO<I THEN FOP=1 3450 IF RF(1)<O OR RF(1)=O THEN RF(1)=1 3460 'BEGIN COVER THICKNESS
OPTIMIZATION
3470 IF JTST=O OR CRITJ>99 OR NOT CRITJ>O GOTO 3800 3.64-36
348( 3490 3500 3510 3520 3530 3540 3550 3560 3570 3580 3590 3600 3610 3620 3630 3640 3650 3660 3670 3680 3690 3700 3710 3720 3730 3740 3750 3760 3770 3780 3790 3800 3810 3820 3830 T7=(RF(N)-CRITJ)/CRITJ
ABT7=ABS(T7)
IF ABT7<ACC GOTO 3800 NTST=N03 IIJ=N02 I IF NTST=NSAVE
GOTO 3560 ) DXMAX=O : DXMIN=O : RFMAX=O : RFMIN=O NSAVE=NTST
'SET LIMITS AND SEARCH FOR DX IF T7=0 GOTO 3800 IF T7<0 THEN DXMAX=DX(NTST)
ELSE 3600 RFMIN=RF(N)
- GOTO 3610 DXMIN=DX(NTST)
- RFMAX=RF(N)
IF DXMAX=O GOTO 3620 ELSE 3630 DX(NTST)=DX(NTST)*(I+.5*T7)
- GOTO 3640 DX(NTST)=DXMIN+(DXMAX-DXMIN)*(RFMAX-CRITJ)/(RFMAX-RFMIN)
IF RFMAX=O THEN DX(NTST)=.5*DXMAX
IF NOT DX(NTST)>1 THEN DX(NTST)=O:
JTST=O IF ITHK=O GOTO 2460 T2T=O IF N04>N GOTO 3720 FOR IJ=N04 TO N T2T=T2T+DX(IJ)
NEXT IJ IF.NO1<2 GOTO 3760 FOR IJ=2 TO NOI T2T=T2T+DX(IJ)
NEXT IJ T23=DX(NTST)
T2T=T2T+DX(NTST)
IF NOT DX(NTST)=T23 THEN CRITJ=-1 GOTO 2460 'PRINT RESULTS PRINT PRINT " RESULTS OF RADON DIFFUSION
CALCULATIOI
PRINT " LAYER THICKNESS
EXIT FLUX EXIT CONC.", PRINT " (cm) (pCi m--2 s--1) (pCi 1-i) " 3.64-37 I r NS" : PRINT : LPRINT I
3840 3850 3860 3870 3880 3890 3900 3910 3920 3930 3940 3950 3960 3970 3980 3990 4000 4010 4020 4030 3.64-38 FOR I=1 TO N RXYZ=RF(I)*10000
CXYZ=RC(I)*1000*A4(1)
PRINT USING " ### ";I; PRINT USING " ##.### ...";DDX(I);RXYZ;CXYZ
NEXT I LPRINT :LPRINT LPRINT " ","RESULTS
OF THE RADON DIFFUSION
CAL4 LPRINT :LPRINT LPRINT " ","LAYER THICKNESS
EXIT FLUX LPRINT " "," (cm) (pCi m--2 s--l) LPRINT FOR I=1 TO N RXYZ=RF(I)*10000
CXYZ=RC(I)*1000*A4(I)
LPRINT " ", : LPRINT USING "### ";I; LPRINT USING " ##.### ...";DDX(I);RXYZ;CXYZ
NEXT I LPRINT CHR$(12) END CULATIONS" EXIT CONC (pCi 1--1' I )"
TABLE 2B RADON Program Sample Problem Output-------------
RADON !** Version 1.2 -May 22, 1989 -G.F. Birchard tel. # (301)492-7000
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Research RADON FLUX, CONCENTRATION, AND TAILINGS COVER THICKNESS
ARE CALCULATED
FOR MULTIPLE LAYERS THREE-LAYER
SAMPLE PROBLEM CONSTANTS RADON DECAY CONSTANT RADON WATER/AIR
PARTITION
COEFFICIENT
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF COVER & TAILINGS.0000021 .26 2.65 s^-1 GENERAL INPUT PARAMETERS
LAYERS OF COVER AND TAILINGS DESIRED RADON FLUX LIMIT NO. OF THE LAYER TO BE OPTIMIZED
DEFAULT SURFACE RADON CONCENTRATION
RADON FLUX INTO LAYER 1 SURFACE FLUX PRECISION
LAYER INPUT PARAMETERS
LAYER 1 TAILINGS THICKNESS
POROSITY CALCULATED
MASS DENSITY MEASURED SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION
WEIGHT % MOISTURE MOISTURE SATURATION
FRACTION MEASURED DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT
3 20 3 0 0 .001 pCi m'-2 s^-1 pCi pCi pCi 500 .44 1.484 .000573 11.7 .395 .013 l^-1 m^-2 s^-1 m^-2 s--1 r cm g cm^-3 pCi cm^-3 s^-1 cm^-2 s--1 LAYER 2 CLAY COVER THICKNESS
POROSITY CALCULATED
MASS DENSITY MEASURED SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION
WEIGHT % MOISTURE MOISTURE SATURATION
FRACTION MEASURED DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT
50 .3 1.855 0 6.3 .390 .0078 cm g cm^-3 pCi cm'-3 s--1 cm^-2 s--1 3.64-39 LAYER 3 SOIL COVER THICKNESS
POROSITY CALCULATED
MASS DENSITY MEASURED SOURCE TERM CONCENTRATION
WEIGHT % MOISTURE MOISTURE SATURATION
FRACTION MEASURED DIFFUSION
COEFFICIENT
100 .37 1.6695 0 5.4 .244 .022 cm g cm^-3 pCi cm"-3 s^-I cm^2 s^-i DATA SENT TO THE FILE 'RNDATA' ON DRIVE A: N 3 LAYER 1 2 3 F01 0. O00D+00 DX 5.000D+02
5. OOOD+01 1 000D+02 CN1 0. O00D+00 D 1.300D-02
7.800D-03
2.200D-02 ICOST 3 P 4.400D-01
3.OOOD-01
3.700D-01 CRITJ 2. OOOD+01 Q 5.730D-04
0. O00D+00 0.O00D+00 ACC 1. OOOD-03 XMS 3.946D-01
3.895D-01
2.437D-01 RHO 1.484 1.855 1.670 BARE SOURCE FLUX FROM LAYER 1: 1.984D+02 pCi m^-2 s^-I RESULTS OF THE RADON DIFFUSION
CALCULATIONS
EXIT FLUX (pCi m^-2 s^-l) 7.691D+01
4.524D+01
2.001D+01 EXIT CONC. (pCi I^-1) 1.670D+05
4.430D+04 O.O00D+00 3.64-40 LAYER 1 2 3 THICKNESS (cm) 5.000D+02
5.000D+01
1.490D+02 I
REFERENCES
1. V.C. Rogers and K.K. Nielson, "Radon Attenuation Handbook for Uranium Mill Tailings Cover Design," NUREG/CR-3533,*
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1984. 2. V.C. Rogers, K.K. Nielson, and G. B. Merrell, "Engineering Guides for Estimating Cover Material Thickness and Volume," Report UMTRA-DOE/ALO-193, U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1982. 3. D.R. Kalkwarf and D.W. Mayer, "Influence of Cover Defects on the Attenuation of Radon with Earthen Covers," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG/CR-3395,*
1983. 4. V.C. Rogers, K.K. Nielson, and G.B. Merrell, "The Effects of Advection on Radon Transport Through Earthen Materials," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG/CR-3409,*
1983. 5. American Society for Testing and Materials, "Standard Test Methods for Moisture-Density Relations of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Using 5.5 lb (2.49 kg) Rammer and 12 in. (305 mm) Drop," ASTM-D-698-78, Philadelphia, 1978. 6. L.D. Baver, Soil Physics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1956. 7. W.J. Rawls and D.L. Brakensiek, "Estimating Soil Water Retention From Soil Properties," Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Division, American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 108, No. IR2, pp. 166-171, June 1982. 8. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, "Final Generic Environmental Impact Statement," NUREG-0706,*
Washington, DC, 1980. 9. K.K. Nielson et al., "Radon Emanation Characteristics of Uranium Mill Tailings," in Proceedings of the Symposium on Uranium Mill Tailings Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, December 9-10, 1982. 10. K.K. Nielson and V.C. Rogers, "A Mathematical Model for Radon Diffusion in Earthen Materials," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG/CR-2765,*
1982. 11. V.C. Rogers, G.M. Sandquist, and K.K. Nielson, "Radon Attenuation Effective ness and Cost Optimization for Uranium Mill Tailings and Composite Covers," UMTRA-DOE/ALO
165, U.S. Department of Energy, July 1981. *NUREG-series reports are available at current rates from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Post Office Box 37082, Washington, DC 20013-7082;
or from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.3.64-41 VALUE/IMPACT
STATEMENT A draft value/impact statement was published with the draft version of this regulatory guide (Task WM 503-4) when the draft guide was published for public comment in May 1987. No changes were necessary, so a separate value/ impact statement for the final guide has not been prepared.
A copy of the draft value/impact statement is available for inspection and copying for a fee at the Commission's Public Document Room at 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC, under Task WM 503-4.3.64-42 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 FIRST CLASS MAIL POSTAGE & FEES PAID USNRC PERMIT No G-67 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300 IA. 2055-'I t