This tutorial uses a simplified version of the core sub-systems used for the SR97 post closure safety assessment. You will install a library containing three sub-systems; the near field, the geosphere and the biosphere. By combining these three sub-systems you will simulate the transport of radionuclides of the U-238 decay chain from the source (a broken canister) to water bodies on the surface.

After this tutorial, you will have learned to construct a model by combining sub-systems from an Ecolego library.

1. Download and unzip archive with library file sr97.zip
2. From the File menu, choose Library > Manage library…
3. Click the Import… button and choose the file “SR97.ecl”. When you close the file window, a folder named SR97 should appear in the list below.
4. Open the folder by pressing the + symbol and assert that it contains the three sub-systems “Biosphere”, “Geosphere” and “Nearfield”.
5. Close the window

1. Download and unzip archive with file “SR-97 empty.eco” sr_97_empty.zip. This project contains only some simulation settings.
2. Click File > Open project and select the file “SR-97 empty.eco”.
3. In the Graph window , right-click and select Get from library…
4. From the window that appears, select Nearfield and click Ok.
5. A sub-system should now be placed on the graph. You can open the sub-system by clicking the + symbol
6. Switch to the simulation layout by clicking the Simulation button in the toolbar.
7. Click the Run toolbar button or select Simulation > Run from the menu.
8. When the simulation has finished, the Results window displays a folder with the date and time of the simulation. Open this folder by clicking the small + sign. Next, open the sub-folder named Nearfield. It contains the further nested folders with outputs for the different discretizations of the barriers around the capsule. In the bottom, there is an output named Q_flux. This output contains the flow of radionuclides from the nearfield to the bedrock.
9. Select the Q_flux output. From the list below, click (All) to include all the radionuclides (by default, only the first radionuclide, I-129, is selected).
10. A plot over time should appear in the Charts window. Make sure that the scale is log by clicking the Log x and Log y buttons beneath the chart. You can also add a legend by selecting a legend position from the Legend drop down list.

You will now add a sub-system representing the geosphere and make sure that it is properly connected to Nearfield.

1. Return to the modelling window layout by clicking the Modelling button in the toolbar.
2. If you have opened the Nearfield sub-system, close it.
3. Right-click an empty area of the graph and select Get from library…
4. Select Geosphere from the list and close the window by clicking Ok.
5. Ecolego will now ask if you want to automatically connect Geosphere to other sub-systems in the model. Click Ok.
6. The Geosphere sub-system should now appear, with a connector from Nearfield to Geosphere.
7. Select the connector, and inspect it in the Information window. The connector makes sure that some parameter values, as well as the output flux (Q_flux) from the Nearfield are transferred to the Geosphere.
8. Run a simulation and create a plot of the output Geosphere > Geosphere flux out. This output represents the release of contaminants to the surface.

You will finalize the tutorial by adding a sub-system for the sea which is located on the surface. Instead of letting Ecolego automatically connecting it to Geosphere, you will do it yourself.

1. In the graph, add the Biosphere sub-system. When asked if you want to automatically connect it to other sub-systems, click Cancel.
2. When the Biosphere sub-system appears on your screen, move the mouse cursor to the center of the Geosphere sub-system. A green outline should be displayed. While keeping the left mouse button pressed, move the mouse cursor to the center of the Biosphere sub-system. When you release the mouse button a connector should appear from Geosphere to Biosphere.
3. Right-click the connector and select Edit.
4. The only output of the Geosphere (Geosphere flux out) should be connected to the only input of the Biosphere (also named Geosphere flux out).
5. Close the window without making any changes.
6. Run a simulation.
7. Create a plot of Biosphere > C_Seawater, which represents the activity concentration in sea water.

References

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