Assessing the Consequences of Postclosure Criticality in Spent Nuclear Fuel

Journal Article · 08 February 2024 · Nuclear Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2277028 · OSTI ID:2311517

Price, Laura L.  ^[1]; Alsaed, Halim ^[2]; Basurto, Eduardo ^[1]; Salazar, Alex ^[1]; Davidson, Gregory ^[3]; Swinney, Mathew ^[3]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. EnviroNuclear, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research into studying the consequences of postclosure criticality on the performance of a generic repository by (1) identifying the features, events, and processes (FEPs) that need to be considered in such an analysis, (2) developing the tools needed to model the relevant FEPs in a postclosure performance assessment, and (3) conducting analyses both with and without the occurrence of a postclosure criticality and comparing the results. Here, this paper describes progress in this area of research and presents the results to date of analyzing the consequences of a postulated steady-state criticality in a hypothetical saturated shale repository. Preliminary results indicate that postclosure criticality would not affect repository performance.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (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
• OSTI ID: 2311517
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2447285
• Report Number(s): SAND--2024-01623J
• 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