Demonstrating feasible disposable concepts for Transuranic (Tru) Wastes in Japan - an overview of project Tru-2
- National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra), Wettingen (Switzerland)
- Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Geological Isolation Research and Development Directorate, TRU Waste Disposal Research Group, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki (Japan)
- Kansai Electric Power Company Inc., Fukui (Japan)
In Japan, the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPC) and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have been collaborating with relevant organizations to promote generic research and development (R and D) for the safe geological disposal of transuranic (TRU) waste based on the technical achievements in Japan's high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal program. A result of this collaborative effort was the production of a recent progress report on the R and D for TRU-waste disposal in Japan (project TRU-2). This paper is an overview of TRU-2 describing the key results and some unique methodologies developed. It is estimated that ca 140,000 m{sup 3} of TRU-waste will be generated in Japan by 2050. TRU-2 has demonstrated that depending on the alpha, beta and gamma contents, 63% of TRU-waste is suitable for near surface disposal (a few tens of meters deep), 18% for intermediate depth disposal (50-100 m) and 19% for deep geological disposal (several 100 m). Radionuclide migration analyses were performed with realistic near-field models and databases taking into account the specific design components in a TRU-waste disposal. This was complemented with a unique top-down sensitivity analysis for handling remaining uncertainties. I-129 and C-14 gave the dominant dose but this was much lower than background levels in Japan and regulatory levels in overseas countries. Furthermore, through application of alternative technologies, it was shown that higher containment of I-129 and C-14 could produce even more robust repository concepts over a wide range of geological environments. Finally, it was demonstrated that feasibility and cost could be improved through the concept of co-locational disposal with HLW; a concept that has already been demonstrated in many other countries (e.g. Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland). (authors)
- Research Organization:
- WM Symposia, 1628 E. Southern Avenue, Suite 9 - 332, Tempe, AZ 85282 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21305414
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US--09-WM-07144
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
High-level radwaste plans in nine countries
Spent fuel and high-level waste management in selected countries: Trends and issues