Simulation using representative data selection for transboundary radiation effect evaluation by Nuclear Accident Consequence Analysis Code (NACAC)

ABSTRACT

Global radionuclide dispersion from Fukushima nuclear accident urged several countries to begin evaluating the radiation effects from neighboring countries. The representative data selection simulation is one of the evaluation methods providing practical results with reasonable computational resources. However, it is mostly used in the domestic radiation effect evaluation. This study investigated and modified this simulation method for transboundary radiation effect evaluation. The effects of selected area boundaries, optional weather parameters, and sampling rate, critical parameters in the representative data selection scheme, are sequentially investigated on the calculated results. The evaluation is performed by Nuclear Accident Consequence Analysis Code (NACAC) with hypothetical accidents at Fangchenggang NPP in China. It is revealed that area boundary and optional weather parameter selection insignificantly impact the predicted results, but the sampling rate condition affects the predicted results. Good agreements comprising dispersion characteristics and total effective dose equivalent by simulation using representative and sequential data selections are shown with absolute mean bias error lower than 2.4 × 10⁻³ mSv, root mean square error lower than 5.7 × 10⁻⁴ mSv, and correlation coefficient value higher than 9.1 × 10⁻¹.

KEYWORDS:

• Radiation consequence evaluation
• meteorological data selection
• atmospheric dispersion

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. scholarship, National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), and the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organization) for the financial support (funding number PHD/0010/2561).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Research Council of Thailand [PHD/0010/2561].