Migration Simulation of Radioactive Soil Particles in the Atmospheric Environment Using CFD-DEM Coupled with Empirical Formulas

Radioactive particle migration from the soil surface is an unignorable factor for the radioactive material distribution prediction after a nuclear accident, especially for the decision support of radioactive disposal. Considering the continuous emission, collision, and reattachment of radioactive particles, a creative simulation method with a coupled model was proposed, which combines an empirical model and the CFD-DEM method, and was established to simulate the secondary emission and motion of radioactive particles. The source term of the radioactive particles is estimated by an empirical model as the input of the CFD-DEM. Regarding the characteristics of the particle motion, the spout-fluidized bed simulation by the coupled model is consistent with the referred simulation results and experimental data, which validates the correctness of this model. The coupling model was applied to simulate the radioactive particle distribution and migration on the nonconfined backward facing step (NBFS). The simulation reveals that the distribution features and migration flux of the radioactive particles can be estimated in detail by the proposed model, which can help to provide more actual information for radioactive disposal after nuclear accidents.

Automated summary

This research proposes a coupled model combining an empirical model and the CFD-DEM method to simulate the secondary emission and motion of radioactive particles. The correctness of the coupled model is validated, making it suitable for estimating the distribution features and migration flux of radioactive particles, providing more actual information for radioactive disposal after nuclear accidents.