Modeling Geologic Waste Repository Systems Below Residual Saturation

Paul, Matthew J.; Park, Heeho Daniel; Nole, Michael Anthony; Painter, Scott L.

doi:10.1080/00295450.2023.2262294

Modeling Geologic Waste Repository Systems Below Residual Saturation

Journal Article · Tue Oct 24 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Nuclear Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2262294· OSTI ID:2311518

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Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

The heat generated by high-level radioactive waste can pose numerical and physical challenges to subsurface flow and transport simulators if the liquid water content in a region near the waste package approaches residual saturation due to evaporation. Here, residual saturation is the fraction of the pore space occupied by liquid water when the hydraulic connectivity through a porous medium is lost, preventing the flow of liquid water. While conventional capillary pressure models represent residual saturation using asymptotically large values of capillary pressure, here, residual saturation is effectively modeled as a tortuosity effect alone. Treating the residual fluid as primarily dead-end pores and adsorbed films, relative permeability is independent of capillary pressure below residual saturation. To test this approach, PFLOTRAN is then used to simulate thermal-hydrological conditions resulting from direct disposal of a dual-purpose canister in unsaturated alluvium using both conventional asymptotic and revised, smooth models. Importantly, while the two models have comparable results over 100 000 years, the number of flow steps required is reduced by approximately 94%.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Office of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003525; AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2311518

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2477545
OSTI ID: 2004307

Report Number(s):: SAND--2024-00802J

Journal Information:: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 210; ISSN 0029-5450

Publisher:: Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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