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U.S. Department of Energy
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Thermohydeologic Behavior at the Potential Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/792427· OSTI ID:792427

Radioactive decay of high-level nuclear waste emplaced in a Yucca Mountain repository will produce an initial heat flux on the order of 30 to 50 times the heat flux in the Geysers geothermal reservoir in California (Hardin et al., 1998). Even though the rate of heat production decreases rapidly with time after emplacement, this heat flux will change the thermal and hydrologic environment, affecting both the host rock and conditions within the drifts in ways significant to key repository performance variables.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP) (US)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
792427
Report Number(s):
UCRL-ID-137653
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English