Integration of computational modeling for the Los Alamos National Laboratory low level radioactive waste disposal performance assessment
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Rogers and Associates Engineering Corp., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
The preliminary Performance Assessment for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility at Area G is drawing to completion. The disposal site is located on the top of a finger mesa in the complex terrain of a semi-arid region which leads to considerable complications in the atmospheric and subsurface transport and in the requisite modeling. Infiltration and run-off are evaluated for the proposed disposal unit closure configuration. A new analytic source release model characterizes the disposal unit performance utilizing detailed source term characterization from the inventory data base. This analysis provides input to the subsurface modeling done by the sophisticated finite element transport code, FEHM, using realistic 2-D cross-sections of the geologic units stratigraphies and the disposal units. Subsurface transport via lateral flow to intermittent alluvial waters in adjacent canyons is evaluated in addition to the usual deep aquifer. Vapor phase flow has been treated separately and calibrated to field data for tritium migration. Atmospheric transport is based on Gaussian dispersion with a correction for complex canyon terrain evaluated from on-going 3-D atmospheric transport studies. Indications to date are that the Performance Assessment objectives are met for all migration pathways.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 148670
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-95-3523; CONF-951209-3; ON: DE96002597
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 17. low-level radioactive waste management conference, Phoenix, AZ (United States), 12-14 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: [1995]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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