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Thermal impact of waste emplacement and surface cooling associated with geologic disposal of high-level nuclear waste

  • Published:
Environmental Geology and Water Sciences

Abstract

This article is a study of the thermal effects associated with the emplacement of aged radioactive high-level wastes in a geologic repository, with emphasis on the following subjects: waste characteristics, repository structure, and rock properties controlling the thermally induced effects; thermal, thermomechanical, and thermohydrologic impacts, determined mainly on the basis of previous studies that assume 10-yr-old wastes; thermal criteria used to determine the repository waste loading densities; and technical advantages and disadvantages of surface cooling of the wastes prior to disposal as a means of mitigating the thermal impacts. Waste loading densities determined by repository designs for 10-yr-old wastes are extended to older wastes using the near-field thermomechanical criteria based on room stability considerations. Also discussed are the effects of long surface cooling periods determined on the basis of far-field thermomechanical and thermohydrologic considerations. Extension of the surface cooling period from 10 yr to longer periods can lower the near-field thermal impact but have only modest long-term effects for spent fuel. More significant long-term effects can be achieved by surface cooling of reprocessed high-level waste.

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Abbreviations

BWR:

boiling water reactor

DHLW:

defense high-level waste

DOE:

Department of Energy

EIA:

Energy Information Administration

EIS:

Environmental Impact Statement

EPA:

Environmental Protection Agency

FBR:

fast breeder reactor

GEIS:

Generic Environmental Impact Statement

HLW:

high-level waste

HTR:

high-temperature reactor

HWR:

heavy water reactor

INFCE:

International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation

KBS:

Karnbranslesakerhet, Swedish Nuclear Fuel Safety Program

LBL:

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

LWR:

light water reactor

MOX:

mixed oxide fuel

MTHM:

metric ton of heavy metal

NRC:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NWTS:

National Waste Terminal Storage Program

OCRD:

Office of Crystalline Repository Development

ONWI:

Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation

OWI:

Office of Waste Isolation

PWR:

pressurized water reactor

RH-TRU:

remotely handled transuranic-contaminated waste

RRC-IWG:

Reference Repository Conditions Interface Working Group

SF:

spent fuel

SNL:

Sandia National Laboratories

WIPP:

Waste Isolation Project Plant

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  1. Earth Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, 94720, Berkeley, California

    J. S. Y. Wang, D. C. Mangold & C. F. Tsang

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  1. J. S. Y. Wang
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  2. D. C. Mangold
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  3. C. F. Tsang
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Wang, J.S.Y., Mangold, D.C. & Tsang, C.F. Thermal impact of waste emplacement and surface cooling associated with geologic disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 11, 183–239 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02580454

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