RTARC - A COMPUTER CODE FOR RADIOLOGICAL SEVERE ACCIDENT CONSEQUENCE ASSESSMENT - MODELS AND CODE DESCRIPTION

Accident assessment is the basis for intervention in an appropriate an d timely manner and to mitigate the effects of the accident. RTARC (Re al-Time Accident Release Consequence) is a computer code developed at the Nuclear Power Plants Research Institute, Trnava, Slovak Republic t o calculate and predict atmospheric transportation and off-site radiol ogical consequences in the event of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency during the early phase. The code is used by nuclear facilit ies for basic emergency response planning and preparedness, real-time dose projection and dispersion calculations during an accident, and fo r post-accident analysis. The main objectives of the code are: (1) pro viding guidance for deploying and directing field measurement teams; ( 2) evaluating the consequences of assumed release mechanisms and rates ; (3) evaluating the effectiveness of the protective measures; and (4) displaying data effectively in an emergency response facility. The co de calculations include atmospheric transport and diffusion, dose asse ssment (external exposure to the radioactive airborne plume, inhalatio n of the plume and resuspended radioactivity, external exposure to dep osits from the plume). evaluation and display of the affected zones, e valuation of the early health effects, concentration and dose rate tim e dependence in the selected sites, etc. The simulation of the protect ive measures (sheltering, iodine administration) is involved.