Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jorge A. Garcia-Hernandez, Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam, Mythreyi Sivaraman
Summary: This study approximates the reduction of sulphate to sulphide caused by SRB in a deep geological repository in Canada to calculate the expected lifetime of UFCs. The use of first-order kinetics to account for SRB-induced sulphide production is a novel approach. Results show that the mean lifetimes of UFCs are above one million years in both scenarios, but further research and experiments are needed for more accurate results.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
M. Frankl, M. Wittel, N. Diomidis, A. Vasiliev, H. Ferroukhi, S. Pudollek
Summary: This article presents the technical foundation for a criticality safety assessment for the Swiss HLW deep geological repository concept and discusses the potential impact of ELB corrosion scenarios on the system's criticality.
ANNALS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
David S. Hall, Mehran Behazin, W. Jeffrey Binns, Peter G. Keech
Summary: The review discusses the favoured design concept of permanent disposal of high level nuclear waste in containers and considers the corrosion processes that can affect these packages. It demonstrates the methodology used to calculate corrosion depth in a Canadian geological repository environment and suggests areas for future study. Various corrosion sub-allowances are considered, and the expected depth of corrosion over time is evaluated for a specific site condition.
PROGRESS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tarek L. Rashwan, Md Abdullah Asad, Ian L. Molnar, Mehran Behazin, Peter G. Keech, Magdalena M. Krol
Summary: A coupled 3D thermal-hydraulic-chemical model was developed to explore the impact of key coupled physics on bisulfide (HS-) transport in the proposed Canadian DGR. The simulations showed that the influence from saturation and heating on HS- transport was small compared to the long DGR design life, with heating increasing corrosion by less than 20% and saturation having a negligible impact. Carefully resolving the design parameters is necessary for reliably forecasting the extent of HS- corrosion.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Tsubasa Sasaki, Jonny Rutqvist
Summary: Safety assessment of geological nuclear waste repositories is essential. This study investigates the effect of time-dependent deformation of shale on the long-term integrity of a generic subsurface nuclear waste repository. Results suggest potential advantages of constructing repositories in high creep shale.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Jongyoul Lee, Kwangil Kim, Inyoung Kim, Heejae Ju, Jongtae Jeong, Changsoo Lee, Dongkeun Cho, Jung-Woo Kim
Summary: To ensure the sustainable use of nuclear energy, it is crucial to safely manage and isolate high-level radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel, from the human environment. In Korea, where land area is limited, efforts are being made to maximize disposal efficiency through the development of a high-efficiency deep geological repository concept. This study successfully developed design strategies and requirements, as well as engineered barrier modules, for a high-efficiency deep geological repository system.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Tsubasa Sasaki, Jonny Rutqvist
Summary: Geologic disposal is a promising solution for safe permanent isolation of high-level nuclear waste, and researchers have developed a method to estimate stress and permeability changes, successfully matching these values in simulations.
COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Zorica Radakovic-Guzina, Branko Damjanac, Tom Lam, Hossein A. Kasani
Summary: This paper presents a novel approach for simulating the evolution of damage and fracturing around placement rooms in deep geological repositories, considering coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes. The approach uses a bonded-block model based on the distinct element method, allowing accurate representation of rock deformation, damage, and fracturing.
ROCK MECHANICS AND ROCK ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Jongtae Jeong, Jung-Woo Kim, Dong-Keun Cho
Summary: In this study, a computer program called ACom was developed to combine spent nuclear fuels (SNFs) stored in canisters and ensure an even distribution of decay heat per canister. The results confirmed that ACom can achieve an even distribution of decay heat in disposal scenarios for SNF deep geological repositories (DGRs), with a lower maximum decay heat compared to estimated canisters using a reference SNF. This research conclusion is significant for improving the disposal efficiency of DGRs.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Elena Abramova, Nadezhda Popova, Grigory Artemiev, Kirill Boldyrev, Konstantin Kazakov, Dmitry Kryuchkov, Alexey Safonov
Summary: This article discusses the impact of microorganisms on the stability of cement, clay, and steel engineering safety barriers in a deep geological repository for radioactive waste in Russia. The study found that microbial processes such as steel corrosion, cement degradation, and changes in clay properties are likely to occur. The article also highlights the importance of clay materials in engineering barrier safety and proposes biocidal additives to suppress microbial activity.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Zorica Radakovic-Guzina, Branko Damjanac, Tom Lam, Hossein A. Kasani
Summary: Evaluation of stability and damages in the geosphere surrounding a deep geological repository is crucial for assessing repository performance. In this study, a novel approach based on the bonded block model is used to simulate damage evolution and fracturing around the repository rooms. The results indicate that the hypothetical DGR configurations have good stability in both sedimentary and crystalline geological settings.
COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Stefan Finsterle, Cal Cooper, Richard A. Muller, John Grimsich, John Apps
Summary: The depth and layout of a horizontal borehole repository offer strong isolation of nuclear waste from the surface, but the potential compromised by the borehole used for access. Numerical calculations demonstrate that even with poor quality backfill material or deteriorated conditions, the dose contribution of radionuclides released through the access hole is small, indicating the importance of sealing the access hole in ensuring safety.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Je Ir Ryu, Seung Min Woo, Manseok Lee, Hyun Chul Yoon
Summary: This study numerically investigates the processes of ignition and flame propagation in a geological repository with accumulated hydrogen. The effects of ignition source power and energy are revealed and analyzed through simulations and theoretical analysis. The mechanism of layered flame propagation is suggested, and the boundary of hazardous ignition area is identified by simulating different ignition source positions.
NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elizaveta Klein, Susie M. L. Hardie, Wolfgang Kickmaier, Ian G. McKinley
Summary: A critical aspect of selecting sites for deep geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste is their ability to slow down the migration of radionuclides released from engineered barriers. Models play a crucial role in connecting field observations and laboratory studies on rock/water/radionuclide interactions. Despite remaining uncertainties, utilizing knowledge from anthropogenically contaminated sites can enhance safety cases for geological repositories.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jeremy Leong, Kumaraswamy Ponnambalam, Jeff Binns, Ali Elkamel
Summary: This paper focused on studying the temperature evolution of high-level radioactive waste within a deep geological repository, proposing optimization methods for the design of a Canadian DGR. The optimization included spacing between UFCs, distance between container placement rooms, and positions of age-dependent UFCs in the rooms. Methods involved surrogate-based optimization to reduce computational cost and yield optimization to consider uncertainties in the design process.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
