Heat transfer studies in salt and granite
Results are presented of a scoping study on the feasibility of using a multi-layer terminal repository design in both salt and granite formations to store either high-level waste or spent fuel. Calculations have been made to determine temperature profiles within the repository and to provide an estimate of the thermal uplift that can be expected. Near-field models developed to compare temperature profiles in the regions close to the waste canisters indicated that maximum thermal gradients and maximum temperature increases could be significantly reduced by changing from a single to a multi-layer repository design. For both high-level waste and for spent fuel, the maximum temperature increase in the multi-level repositories was reduced to approximately 60 percent of the temperature increase predicted for the single-level repositories at the same areal loading. After the near-field models had verified that maximum thermal gradients and temperature increases could be reduced by using a multilevel repository design, a series of far-field models was developed. The far-field models used to provide qualitative comparisons of the maximum thermal uplift indicate that the thermal uplift is roughly proportional to the energy supplied to the formation. Changing from a single- to a multi-layer repository but keeping the areal loading constant results in increased thermal uplifts.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-26
- OSTI ID:
- 6552504
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/ENG/TM-14; TRN: 79-001769
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GRANITES
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
SALT DEPOSITS
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
CONTAINERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
STORAGE
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage