Evaluation of Gamma Fluence Rate Predictions for 41-argon Releases to the Atmosphere at a Nuclear Research Reactor Site

An experimental study of radionuclide dispersion in the atmosphere has been conducted at the BR1 research reactor in Mol, Belgium. Artificially generated aerosols ('white smoke') were mixed with the routine releases of Ar-41 in the reactor's 60-m tall venting stack. The detailed plume geometry was measured with remote sensing (Lidar) of the aerosol plumes while surface radiation levels were measured under the plume using gamma detectors at downwind distances of up to 1500 in from the release point. A database was built with simultaneous measurements of plume geometry and radiation field from Ar-41 decay, together with in-situ measurements of meteorological parameters. The joint tracer/radiation experimental dataset has been subsequently used to evaluate the accuracy of predictions of dispersion parameters and gamma fluence rates obtained by the atmospheric dispersion and dose rate model RIMPUFF.