Simulation of radionuclide retardation at Yucca Mountain using a stochastic mineralogical/geochemical model
This paper presents preliminary transport calculations for radionuclide movement at Yucca Mountain. Several different realizations of spatially distributed sorption coefficients are used to study the sensitivity of radionuclide migration. These sorption coefficients are assumed to be functions of the mineralogic assemblages of the underlying rock. The simulations were run with TRACRN{sup 1}, a finite-difference porous flow and radionuclide transport code developed for the Yucca Mountain Project. Approximately 30,000 nodes are used to represent the unsaturated and saturated zones underlying the repository in three dimensions. Transport calculations for a representative radionuclide cation, {sup 135}Cs, and anion, {sup 99}Tc, are presented. Calculations such as these will be used to study the effectiveness of the site`s geochemical barriers at a mechanistic level and to help guide the geochemical site characterization program. The preliminary calculations should be viewed as a demonstration of the modeling methodology rather than as a study of the effectiveness of the geochemical barriers. The model provides a method for examining the integration of flow scenarios with transport and retardation processes as currently understood for the site. The effects on transport of many of the processes thought to be active at Yucca Mountain may be examined using this approach. 11 refs., 14 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 137666
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--90-353; CONF-900406--28; ON: DE90006513; IN: TWS-EES-5-1-90-03; WBS-1.2.3.4.1.5.1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Simulation of radionuclide retardation at Yucca Mountain using a stochastic mineralogical/geochemical model
Sensitivity analysis of integrated radionuclide transport based on a three-dimensional geochemical/geophysical model