Natural radionuclide emission from a coal power plant and the population exposure to external radiation in its vicinity (original) (raw)
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Radionuclide emissions from a coal-fired power plant
Current study concerns measurement of radioactivity levels in areas surrounding a 2420 MW thermal power plant fuelled predominantly by bituminous coal. The concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in onsite bottom-ashwerefoundtobe139Bq/kg,108Bq/kgand291Bq/kg,respectively,thelevelsforthese radiolnuclides insoildecreasingwithdistancefromthepowerplant.Attheplantperimeterthe respectiveradionuclideconcentrationswere87Bq/kg,74Bq/kgand297Bq/kg.Inanearbytown,the corresponding concentrationswere104Bq/kg,52Bq/kgand358Bq/kg,suggestiveofuseofTENORM affected soils.Themeanradiumequivalentactivities(Raeq) insoilandashsampleinthetownwere 205 Bq/kgand316Bq/kg,respectively.TheKaparplantash/slagappearstocontainahigherlevelof TENORM thantheworldaverage.Thedegreeofcontaminationismuchhigherinsidethetownwhere slag hasbeenmixedwithtopsoilaslandfill orassimpledomesticwaste.Fortheprevailinglevelsof exposureandaworstcasesenario,thepredictedcommittedeffectivedoseduetoingestionand inhalation forintakedurationsof1-and30yearswouldbe4.2 μSv and220 μSv,respectively.
Analysis of natural radionuclides in coal, slag and ash in coal-fired power plants in Serbia
Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Metallurgy, 2011
The radioactivity monitoring in the ?Nikola Tesla?, ?Kolubara?, ?Morava? and ?Kostolac? coal-fired power plants was performed by the Radiation and Environmental Protection Laboratory, Vinca Institute of nuclear sciences in the period 2003-2010. Monitoring included the analysis of soil, water, flying ash, slag, coal and plants. This paper presents the results of the radioactivity analysis of coal, ash and slag samples. Naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, 235U, 238U, and 210Pb as well as the man-made radionuclide 137Cs were determined by gamma spectrometry using HPGe detector. The concentrations of pairs of radionuclides were statistically tested to determine the correlation between them. Based on the obtained results, health effect due to the activity of these radionuclides was estimated via radium equivalent (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex), external gamma absorbed dose rate () and annual effective dose.
Behavior of natural radionuclides in western coal-fired power plants
Environmental Science & Technology, 1978
The behavior of the naturally occurring radionuclides 40K, ZlOPb, *zGRa, 22sTh, ZZsRa, 235U, and 238U in coal-fired power plants is described. The enrichment factors [EF = ([XI ~a m p l e / [~~K ] sample)/([X] ~o a l / [~~K ] coal)] for these nuclides in the finer stack fly ash particles indicate significant to a t least slight enrichments for all the nuclides studied. These values range from 5.0 for 210Pb to 1.2 for 22sTh. Uranium-235 and 238U E F values are both 2.8. Radium-226 and zzsRa E F values are 1.9 and 1.6, respectively. Thorium nuclides and 40K show little fractionation in the electrostatic precipitator-(ESP) collected fly ash and the bottom ash (slag or klinkers) when compared to the original coal. Lead-210 shows a definite depletion in the bottom ash and the ESP fly ash. Uranium also tends to be depleted in these samples. An explanation for the behavior of U and nuclides derived from the 23sU decay chain includes a bimodal residence for this element in the coal.
The influence of a coal-fired power plant operation on radionuclide concentrations in soil
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 2002
Fifty-two soil samples in the vicinity of a coal-fired power plant (CFPP) in Figueira (Brazil) were analyzed. The radionuclide concentration for the uranium and thorium series in soils ranged from Ͻ9 to 282 Bq kg Ϫ1 . The range of 40 K concentration in soils varied from Ͻ59 to 412 Bq kg Ϫ1 . The CFPP (10 MWe) has been operating for 35 years and caused a small increment in natural radionuclide concentration in the surroundings. This technologically enhanced natural radioactivity (TENR) was mainly due to the uranium series ( 234 Th, 226 Ra and 210 Pb) and was observable within the first kilometer from the power plant. The CFPP influence was only observed in the 0-25 cm soil horizon. The soil properties prevent the radionuclides of the 238 U-series from reaching deeper soil profiles. The same behavior was observed for 40 K as well. No influence was observed for 232 Th, which was found in low concentrations in the coal. : S 0 2 6 5 -9 3 1 X ( 5-8 286 M. Flues et al. / J. Environ. Radioactivity 63 (2002) 285-294 coal are 35 Bq kg -1 (range: 16-110) for 238 U, 35 Bq kg Ϫ1 (range: 17-60) for 226 Ra, 30 Bq kg Ϫ1 (range: 11-64) for 232 Th and 400 Bq kg Ϫ1 (range: 140-850) for 40 K.
Analysis of Natural Radioactivity in Coal and Ashes from a Coal Fired Power Plant
Coal is widely used mineral due to its accessibility and abundance in nature. Coal contains naturally occurring radionuclides or Natural Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) from Uranium and Thorium series including their decayed daughters namely Uranium-238 (238 U), Radium-226 (226 Ra) and Thorium-232 (232 Th) along with Potassium-40 (40 K). These radionuclides which are a natural phenomenon are released to the environment and concentrated in the ashes resulting from the combustion process. This paper presents an evaluation of the radioactivity content found in the feed coal (FC), bottom ash (BA) and fly ash (FA) sampled from a typical coal fired power plant (CFPP). The samples were measured for activity concentration of several radionuclides namely 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K by using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The radiological hazard based on Radium Equilibrium (Raeq) and External Hazard Index (Hex) was assessed. In this study the activity concentration of all radionuclides in FA was enriched much higher compared to BA and FC. This work found that the degree of enrichment determined by the Enrichment Factor (EF) is differed for bottom and fly ash. The results indicated that each sample have different radiological characteristics. For Raeq and Hex the values calculated for the samples were acceptable and within the limit for construction material. Generally the results proved that the values obtained were much lower and complied with the Malaysia regulatory limit and global values.
Certain materials used and produced in a wide range of non-nuclear industries contain enhanced activity concentrations of natural radionuclides. In particular, electricity production from coal is one of the major sources of increased human exposure to naturally occurring radioactive materials. A methodology was developed to assess the radiological impact due to natural radiation background. The developed research was applied to a specific case study, the Sines coal-fired power plant, located in the southwest coastline of Portugal. Gamma radiation measurements were carried out with two different instruments: a sodium iodide scintillation detector counter (SPP2 NF, Saphymo) and a gamma ray spectrometer with energy discrimination (Falcon 5000, Canberra). Two circular survey areas were defined within 20 km of the power plant. Forty relevant measurements points were established within the sampling area: 15 urban and 25 suburban locations. Additionally, ten more measurements points were defined, mostly at the 20-km area. The registered gamma radiation varies from 20 to 98.33 counts per seconds (c.p.s.) corresponding to an external gamma exposure rate variable between 87.70 and 431.19 nGy/h. The highest values were measured at locations near the power plant and those located in an area within the 6 and 20 km from the stacks. In situ gamma radiation measurements with energy discrimination identified natural emitting nuclides as well as their decay products (
Analysis of natural radioactivity in Yatağan coal - fired power plant in Turkey
2017
Use of the coal in order to generate electricity increases the exposure of people to radiation. In this paper, the activity concentrations of nuclides 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in samples of coal and bottom ash from the Yatagan Coal–Fired thermal power plant determined using gamma ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The mean activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in the coal were found to be 37.2±2.8 Bqkg -1 , 51.8±3.4 Bqkg -1 and 166.7±11.1 Bqkg -1 , respectively. Whereas in the bottom ashes, the concentrations of the corresponding radionuclides were found to be 62.2±5.6 Bqkg -1 , 87.4±5.9 Bqkg -1 and 221.0 ±12.5 Bqkg -1 , respectively. The findings show that bottom ashes show higher activity concentrations of related radionuclide to coal samples. The absorbed gamma dose rate in outdoor air DR OUT and annual effective dose rate (AED) from coal were calculated to define radiological risk. The average findings of annual effective doses were detected as ...
Natural Radioactivity in Fly Ash and Environmental Materials at Morupule Coal-Fired Power Station
This study has been undertaken to estimate the occupational and public to exposure to radiation doses arising due to natural radioactivity at Morupule a Coal-Fired Power Station (MCPS) and its environs in the Central District of Botswana. Direct gamma-ray spectroscopy was used to determine the concentrations of the natural radionuclides, namely, Th-232, U-238, and K-40 in fly ash, coal, soil and water (from the fly ash ponds) samples. The average radioactivity concentrations for Th-232, U-238, and K-40 in fly ash samples were 64.541 Bq/kg, 49.368 Bq/kg and 40.083 Bq/kg respectively, coal samples were 27.429 Bq/kg, 18.099 Bq/kg and 17.384 Bq/kg respectively, soil samples were 10.106 Bq/kg, 6.757 Bq/kg and 118.026 Bq/kg respectively and in water samples were 0.786 Bq/l, 0.315 Bq/l and 1.012 Bq/l respectively. In general, the average radioactivity concentrations are comparable to the average world activity concentrations in the case of coal samples but were lower than the world average in the case of fly ash, soil and water samples. The average annual effective doses for the study area were estimated as 0.320 mSv, 0.126 mSv, 0.069 mSv and 0.003 mSv for fly ash, coal, soil and water samples respectively. All estimated average annual effective doses are within the recommended public and occupational dose limits of 1 mSv and 20 mSv respectively. Results from this study suggest that there is no significant radiological impact of all the investigated matrices to both the workers and public within MCPS and its environs.
Radionuclide concentration: The coal ash effect
International Journal of Physical Sciences
Radionuclide concentrations in coal ash, soil mixed with coal ash and soil were determined using the gamma spectroscopic method. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K in coal ash samples were found as 35.0, 5.8, and 109.4 Bq/kg, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K in soil mixed with coal ash samples varied from 21.2 to 30.8, 48.6 to 82.7, and 162.5 to 180.1 Bq/kg, respectively. The activity concentrations of radionuclides from the non-mixed soil area, which serves as a control to this study ranged from 123.95 to 128.82, 16.33 to 18.38, and 46.63 to 50.30 Bq/kg, respectively for radionuclides 40 K, 226 Ra, and 232 Th, respectively. From the radiological calculations, it was found that the use of coal ash as a soil additive contributed slightly to the radionuclide concentrations of the area under study.
Radioprotection, 2011
Over the past few decades there has been some discussion concerning the increase of the natural background radiation originated by coal-fired power plants, due to the uranium and thorium content present in combustion ashes. The radioactive decay products of uranium and thorium, such as radium, radon, polonium, bismuth and lead, are also released in addition to a significant amount of 40 K. Since the measurement of radioactive elements released by the gaseous emissions of coal power plants is not compulsory, there is a gap of information concerning this situation. Consequently, the prediction of dispersion and mobility of these elements in the environment, after their release, is based on limited data and the radiological impact from the exposure to these radioactive elements is unknown. This paper describes the methodology that is being developed to assess the radiological impact due to the raise in the natural background radiation level originated by the release and dispersion of the emitted radionuclides. The current investigation is part of a research project that is undergoing in the vicinity of Sines coal-fired power plant (south of Portugal) until 2013. Data from preliminary stages are already available and possible of interpretation.