Disruption scenarios for a high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Conference · Tue Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:59941

Ross, B

A high-level waste repository located in unsaturated welded tuff at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, would rely on six different, although not entirely independent, barriers to prevent escape of radioactivity. These barriers are the waste canister, fuel cladding, slow dissolution of the spent fuel itself, and slow movement of released contaminants in three different hydrogeologic units: the unsaturated Topopah Spring welded tuff unit, the unsaturated Calico Hills nonwelded tuff unit, and the saturated tuff aquifer. Fifty-eight processes and events that might affect such a repository were reviewed. Eighty-three different sequences were identified by which these processes and events could lead to failure of one or more barriers. Sequences which had similar consequences were grouped, yielding 17 categories. The repository system has considerable redundancy; most of the more likely disruptions affect only one or a few barriers. Occurrence of more than one disruption is needed before such disruptions would cause release of radioactivity. Future studies of repository performance must assess the likelihood and consequences of multiple-disruption scenarios to evaluate how well the repository meets performance standards.

• Research Organization: Disposal Safety Inc., 1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 610, Washington, DC 20036
• OSTI ID: 59941
• Report Number(s): CONF-860317--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AQUIFERS
DISSOLUTION
EMERGENCY PLANS
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FAILURES
FUEL CANS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLOGY
PERFORMANCE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SPENT FUEL CASKS
SPENT FUEL ELEMENTS
STANDARDS
TUFF
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project