Tide Induced Mathematical Model for Coastal Radioactive Discharge and Its Application

Abstract

A mathematical model has been developed to evaluate spatial and temporal distribution of radionuclide concentration from a continuous discharge of radioactive liquid effluents into the Tarapur coastal waters, taking into consideration tidal effects and seasonal variation of ocean currents. It is found that all the nuclides studied except super(131) I, attain steady state concentration more or less at the same time interval after continuous discharge, depending on the distance along the coast. Further, the confinement of radionuclides parallel to the coast is significant. Limiting discharge rates (LDR) for some typical radionuclides have been computed using a radiological model. The calculations show that the LDR values vary from 7 to 50,000 Ci.d/1, the lowest and highest being for super(239) Pu and super(134) Cs respectively.