Salt Disposal of Heat-Generating Nuclear Waste

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• Response of the modified system to future human-initiated borehole intrusion, is improved because there is less moisture available, and lower permeability around the emplaced waste. Based on the logic presented above, an undisturbed salt repository containing hot waste may be even more robust than that certified for non-heat-generating waste. 3.2.3 Important FEPs for a “Hot” Salt Repository The German approach to repository performance relies on complete isolation within the salt formation (called the isolation rock zone or IRZ). Complete isolation is predicated on the long-term integrity of the IRZ and proof of functional efficacy and robustness of the engineered barrier system. This concept is entirely consistent with the expectation of salt performance assessment for undisturbed cases, as discussed above. As noted by Rothfuchs et al. (2010), the new approach for complete containment is an important development for repository safety assessments. Previous safety assessments emphasized release scenarios and compared results to regulatory performance objectives. The engineered barrier system played an important role in long-term safety of the repository system, particularly the seals in the shafts and connecting drifts, which are essential features to avoid intrusion of brine from overlying, water-bearing strata. In the current IRZ concept, the shaft and drift seals are assumed to have finite lifetimes. This differs with the design philosophy for WIPP in which shaft seal system elements perform forever and are redundant. In the German concept, the long-term sealing function is taken over by compacting crushed salt backfill. The crushed salt backfill has essentially no barrier function in the early years. Permeability reduction is achieved as room closure reconsolidates the granular salt. Thus, in their concept FEPs that represent degraded function of the shaft and drift seals, such as FEPs describing the DRZ, become less important with time. Scenario development for an HLW salt repository is one of the first activities to be pursued if a salt disposal option is selected for the U.S. Considerable uncertainty in the most important FEPs still exists, and the types of human intrusion scenarios to be considered for a HLW repository in salt might depend on the location of the repository and treatment dictated by regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, an understanding of the nature of scenario development for performance assessment clarifies which FEPs are currently deemed important based on the information summarized in this report. Section 4 outlines a science-based approach to these data needs that begins with the current state of the art, identifies possible weaknesses, describes investigations that could address possible points of contention, and concurs with international perspectives and recommendations. 56
4 A PERFORMANCE-BASED DIRECTED RESEARCH PROGRAM Much information has been collected in the past fifty years that supports development of a HLW repository in salt. The next step in establishing the case for HLW disposal in salt is to exploit the available information and develop a solid basis for modeling thermally driven coupled processes. This section evaluates what is presently known versus what information is still needed: a preliminary gap analysis. A stylized depiction of gap analysis is presented in Figure 10. Analyses of this type would be undertaken if there is a U.S. decision to investigate HLW disposal in salt, to provide a foundation for determining the scope of further work as the investigation proceeds. Figure 10. Gap analysis for a HLW repository in salt. To demonstrate the performance of a salt repository based on technical information, one needs a detailed understanding of the important phenomena. That understanding must be translated into appropriate models with associated parameters and supporting data. Simulation capabilities are central to design, 57
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SANDIA REPORT SAND2011-0161 Unlimit
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SAND2011-0161 Unlimited Release Pri
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CONTENTS 1 Introduction ...........
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NOMENCLATURE CFR DOE DRZ EPA FEP HL
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1 INTRODUCTION While the need for i
Page 11 and 12:
that deep geologic disposal in salt
Page 13 and 14: To the extent that regulatory guida
Page 15 and 16: Table 1. Salt and potash mines in t
Page 17 and 18: steel canisters and horizontal plac
Page 19 and 20: Considerable qualitative support fo
Page 21: Table 2. Qualitative comparison of
Page 24 and 25: Source: Sandia National Laboratorie
Page 26 and 27: 2.2 Salt Repository Design A mine l
Page 28 and 29: placed over the waste canisters for
Page 30 and 31: other possible modes of interferenc
Page 32 and 33: provides frame of reference for sha
Page 34 and 35: Healing conditions are created once
Page 36 and 37: permeability tests on Salado salt s
Page 38 and 39: terms of principal stresses. Stress
Page 40 and 41: Cross-hole and same-hole velocity m
Page 42 and 43: Figure 4. DRZ development and heali
Page 44 and 45: can be limited, changed, or otherwi
Page 46 and 47: natural salt extracted from the rep
Page 48 and 49: The thermal properties of the crush
Page 50 and 51: mechanical behavior and hydraulic p
Page 52 and 53: educing conditions is the reaction
Page 54 and 55: materials would also have an impact
Page 56 and 57: coefficient models exist (e.g., the
Page 58 and 59: and international researchers toget
Page 60 and 61: a very high level for the purpose o
Page 62 and 63: epresented in the FEP list, undersc
Page 66 and 67: analysis and performance assessment
Page 68 and 69: 4.4 Availability and Movement of Br
Page 70 and 71: Recent developments in Germany and
Page 72 and 73: 6. Damage Induced Permeability. Mec
Page 75 and 76: 5 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Deep
Page 77 and 78: 7. A HLW repository in salt is expe
Page 79 and 80: This analysis only addresses genera
Page 81: enchmarking program would continue
Page 84 and 85: Brodsky, N.S. 1990. Crack Closure a
Page 86 and 87: Grauer, R., B. Knecht, P. Kreis, an
Page 88 and 89: Knipping, B. 1989. Basalt Intrusion
Page 90 and 91: Plummer, L.N., D.L. Parkhurst, G.W.
Page 92 and 93: Wawersik, W.R., and D.W. Hannum. 19
Page 94 and 95: In the FEPs numbering scheme for WI
Page 96 and 97: WIPP FEP ID — FEP Name — Descri
Page 108 and 109: 1 Jack Moody Director, State Minera
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