You need JavaScript to view this

Coupled Transport/Reaction Modelling of Copper Canister Corrosion Aided by Microbial Processes

Abstract

Copper canister corrosion is an important issue in the concept of a nuclear fuel repository. Previous studies indicate that the oxygen-free copper canister could hold its integrity for more than 100,000 years in the repository environment. Microbial processes may reduce sulphate to sulphide and considerably increase the amount of sulphides available for corrosion. In this paper, a coupled transport/reaction model is developed to account for the transport of chemical species produced by microbial processes. The corroding agents like sulphide would come not only from the groundwater flowing in a fracture that intersects the canister, but also from the reduction of sulphate near the canister. The reaction of sulphate-reducing bacteria and the transport of sulphide in the bentonite buffer are included in the model. The depth of copper canister corrosion is calculated by the model. With representative 'central values' of the concentrations of sulphate and methane at repository depth at different sites in Fennoscandian Shield the corrosion depth predicted by the model is a few millimetres during 10{sup 5} years. As the concentrations of sulphate and methane are extremely site-specific and future climate changes may significantly influence the groundwater compositions at potential repository sites, sensitivity analyses have been conducted. With a  More>>
Authors:
Liu, Jinsong [1] 
  1. Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Sweden). Dept. of Chemical Engineering and Technology
Publication Date:
Apr 15, 2006
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
SKI-R-06-07
Reference Number:
RN06100656; TVI: 0615
Resource Relation:
Other Information: 93 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION; COPPER; SPENT FUELS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; MICROORGANISMS; SULFIDES; CORROSION; CONTAINERS; SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
OSTI ID:
20772730
Research Organizations:
Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate, Stockholm (Sweden)
Country of Origin:
Sweden
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: Project SKI 200409089; ISSN 1104-1374; TRN: SE0608354
Availability:
Also available from: http://www.ski.se; Commercial reproduction prohibited; OSTI as DE20772730
Submitting Site:
SWD
Size:
65 pages
Announcement Date:
Sep 25, 2006

Citation Formats

Liu, Jinsong. Coupled Transport/Reaction Modelling of Copper Canister Corrosion Aided by Microbial Processes. Sweden: N. p., 2006. Web.
Liu, Jinsong. Coupled Transport/Reaction Modelling of Copper Canister Corrosion Aided by Microbial Processes. Sweden.
Liu, Jinsong. 2006. "Coupled Transport/Reaction Modelling of Copper Canister Corrosion Aided by Microbial Processes." Sweden.
@misc{etde_20772730,
title = {Coupled Transport/Reaction Modelling of Copper Canister Corrosion Aided by Microbial Processes}
author = {Liu, Jinsong}
abstractNote = {Copper canister corrosion is an important issue in the concept of a nuclear fuel repository. Previous studies indicate that the oxygen-free copper canister could hold its integrity for more than 100,000 years in the repository environment. Microbial processes may reduce sulphate to sulphide and considerably increase the amount of sulphides available for corrosion. In this paper, a coupled transport/reaction model is developed to account for the transport of chemical species produced by microbial processes. The corroding agents like sulphide would come not only from the groundwater flowing in a fracture that intersects the canister, but also from the reduction of sulphate near the canister. The reaction of sulphate-reducing bacteria and the transport of sulphide in the bentonite buffer are included in the model. The depth of copper canister corrosion is calculated by the model. With representative 'central values' of the concentrations of sulphate and methane at repository depth at different sites in Fennoscandian Shield the corrosion depth predicted by the model is a few millimetres during 10{sup 5} years. As the concentrations of sulphate and methane are extremely site-specific and future climate changes may significantly influence the groundwater compositions at potential repository sites, sensitivity analyses have been conducted. With a broad perspective of the measured concentrations at different sites in Sweden and in Finland, and some possible mechanisms (like the glacial meltwater intrusion and interglacial seawater intrusion) that may introduce more sulphate into the groundwater at intermediate depths during future climate changes, higher concentrations of either/both sulphate and methane than what is used as the representative 'central' values would be possible. In worst cases. locally, half of the canister thickness could possibly be corroded within 10{sup 5} years.}
place = {Sweden}
year = {2006}
month = {Apr}
}