Longitudinal dispersion of radioactive substances in Federal waterways

• Published in: Kerntechnik (1987) Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 205 - 213
• Main Authors: Krause, W. J., Speer, W., Lüllwitz, T., Cremer, M., Tolksdorf, W.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: München De Gruyter 01.08.2007; Hanser
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fuels; Nuclear fuels; Pollution; Radioactive wastes; Wastes; Europe; Germany; Radioactive pollution; Tritium; Water pollution; Mathematical model; Radiation protection; Monitoring; Radioactivity; Tracers
• ISSN: 0932-3902; 2195-8580
• DOI: 10.3139/124.100343

In the context of radioactivity monitoring in German Federal Waterways (BWStr) by the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) according to the Precautionary Radiation Protection Act (StrVG), the prediction of the dispersion of radioactive substances in water is one of the key tasks. The aim is the forecasting of the longitudinal dispersion of concentrations of soluble hazardous substances in flowing water. These predictions are based on the so-called dispersion tests with tritium as a tracer that the BfG has performed since 1980. Characteristic parameters like discharge-dependent flow velocities, dispersion and elimination constants related to emission sources or selected river sections are determined. They will serve as basis for a mathematical model to forecast discharge-dependent flow velocities, expected impact times, concentration maxima, and the duration of critical increases in concentrations. In the following, the results obtained till now from three investigation campaigns on the River Weser and its source rivers Werra and Fulda are described.