Semester of Graduation
Summer 2022
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Louisiana has aligned its radiological emergency program with the 2017 Environmental Protection Agency Protective Action Guides Manual, but has added a child thyroid dose evacuation threshold in lieu of distributing Potassium Iodide to the public. The nuclear power plants will continue to align with the 1992 manual for the foreseeable future, so that under some accident scenarios the state recommendations will differ from those of the utility.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to predict what accident and weather conditions will lead to a differing set of recommendations.
METHODS: More than 1000 simulations were performed of low-filtration nuclear power plant accidents using a combination of the RASCAL software package, provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and a Software system used by Entergy using older RASCAL methodology with plant specific input.
RESULTS: Four initial results along with summary results of the main body of simulations are presented. The results indicate that under low-filtration conditions the 2017 child thyroid dose limit will be breached under accident conditions less severe by a factor of between 2 to 3 than those breaching the 1992 adult thyroid dose limit, and that adult thyroid limit will be breached under accident conditions less severe by a factor of between 2 to 3 than those breaching the 2017 whole body dose limit.
CONCLUSIONS: The 1992 guidelines provide a level of protection midway between a direct application of the 2017 guidelines and the 2017 guidelines with Louisiana’s addition of child thyroid dose threshold.
Date
6-18-2022
Recommended Citation
McMahon, Michael D., "Accident Simulation Study for Nuclear Power Plants Impacting Louisiana" (2022). LSU Master's Theses. 5604.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/5604
Committee Chair
Chancellor, Jeffery C.
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_theses.5604