Multi-scale near-field thermohydrologic analysis of alternative designs for the potential repository at Yucca Mountain
A multi-scale, thermohydrologic (TH) modeling methodology has been developed that integrates the results from 1-, 2-, and 3-D drift-scale models and a 3-D mountain-scale model to calculate the near-field TH variables affecting the performance of the engineered barrier system (EBS) of the potential repository at Yucca Mountain. This information was used by Total System Performance Assessment--Viability Assessment (TSPA-VA) and is being used by the ongoing TSPA, supporting the License Application Design Selection, to assess waste-package (WP) corrosion, waste-form dissolution, and radionuclide transport in the EBS. Line-load WP spacing, which places WPs nearly end to end in widely spaced drifts, results in more locally intensive and uniform heating along drifts, causing hotter, drier, and more uniform conditions on WPs than point-load spacing, which is used in the VA design. Backfilling drifts with a granular material with coarse, well-sorted, nonporous grains (e.g., a coarse quartz sand) results in a large, persistent reduction in RH on WPs; point-load spacing allows only the medium-to-high-heat-output WPs to benefit from RH reduction, but line-load spacing enables all WPs to benefit.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 20015810
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1998 Materials Research Society Fall Meeting, Boston, MA (US), 11/30/1998--12/04/1998; Other Information: Single article reprints are available from University Microfilms Inc., 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106; PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Scientific basis for nuclear waste management XXII. Materials Research Society symposium proceedings: Volume 556, by Wronkiewicz, D.J.; Lee, J.H. [eds.], 1355 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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MULTISCALE THERMOHYDROLOGIC MODEL
Near-field thermal-hydrological behavior for alternative repository designs at Yucca Mountain