Results from simulated remote-handled transuranic waste experiments at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6755997

Molecke, M A

Multi-year, simulated remote-handled transuranic waste (RH TRU, nonradioactive) experiments are being conducted underground in the Waste Isolation Pilot-Plant (WIPP) facility. These experiments involve the near-reference (thermal and geometrical) testing of eight full size RH TRU test containers emplaced into horizontal, unlined rock salt boreholes. Half of the test emplacements are partially filled with bentonite/silica-sand backfill material. All test containers were electrically heated at about 115 W/each for three years, then raised to about 300 W/each for the remaining time. Each test borehole was instrumented with a selection of remote-reading thermocouples, pressure gages, borehole vertical-closure gages, and vertical and horizontal borehole-diameter closure gages. Each test emplacements was also periodically opened for visual inspections of brine intrusions and any interactions with waste package materials, materials sampling, manual closure measurements, and observations of borehole changes. Effects of heat on borehole closure rates and near-field materials (metals, backfill, rock salt, and intruding brine) interactions were closely monitored as a function of time. This paper summarizes results for the first five years of in situ test operation with supporting instrumentation and laboratory data and interpretations. Some details of RH TRU waste package materials, designs, and assorted underground test observations are also discussed. Based on the results, the tested RH TRU waste packages, materials, and emplacement geometry in unlined salt boreholes appear to be quite adequate for initial WIPP repository-phase operations.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6755997
• Report Number(s): SAND-92-1003C; CONF-921101--23; ON: DE93005361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ALLOYS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BOREHOLES
BRINES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAINERS
CORROSION
CORROSION PROTECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HEAT TRANSFER
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SALT DEPOSITS
STEELS
THERMOCOUPLES
THERMODYNAMICS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
VITRIFICATION
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WIPP