Estimation of public exposure during normal operation of unit-1 Barakah Nuclear Power Plant using GALE and HOTSPOT

Abstract

In August 2020, the first Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) unit was connected to the grid and started supplying electricity. The BNPP site consists of 4 pressurized water reactor units, and each unit generates electricity up to 1400 MWe power. Concerning safety, the radiological assessment of the radioactive release and the corresponding public exposure during normal operation is essential. In the present work, the radioactive release during normal operation, in gaseous form, is calculated considering the operating condition of the BNPP by using the GALE code for gaseous forms. Then, the HOTSPOT code is used to simulate the radiological dispersion, including the public exposure and Total Effective Dose Equivalent (TEDE). HOTSPOT code uses the Gaussian dispersion model to provide near-surface releases, short-range dispersion, and short-term releases. Finally, the results in the present work are compared with the values given in the Final Safety Analysis Report of the BNPP. For typical operating circumstances, this study evaluated gaseous source terms such as iodine, noble gases, radioactive particles, tritium, C-14, and Ar-41 and found that TEDE values are within the authorized limits for distances up to 80 kms from the power plant.

Keywords

• BNPP
• Radiological dispersion
• Public exposure
• GALE
• HOTSPOT