Summary of WIPP Room B heater test brine and backfill material data
Simulated DHLW (Defense High Level Waste) package performance tests were carried out at the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) by emplacing a number of waste canisters containing electrical heaters into the floor of the mine. Peak temperatures were about 130{degrees}C, and the tests ran for three years. During this time, an unanticipated large amount of water was collected from heater hole BO42. A study was, therefore, undertaken to determine if this fluid was derived from normal weep brines. This was accomplished by comparing the amount of salt deposited by the dried weep brines with the volume of condensed steam collected during the test. Documenting the post-test condition of the various backfills was the other objective of this report. In spite of being exposed to acidic vapors, the bentonite-sand backfill retained its mineralogic integrity. However, the bentonite-sand backfill compacted between the canister and the wall only achieved a density that was about three quarters that of a pore-free material. The bentonite backfill also showed evidence of hair-line cracks through which steam had left the vicinity of the canister. In contrast, compacted crushed salt backfill exhibited no evidence of through-going cracks and was compacted to better than 99% of that of pure nonporous sodium chloride. Thus, the seal provided by a crushed salt backfill appears to be superior to that provided by bentonite. 13 refs., 6 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 5498076
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-0626; ON: DE91016871
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BACKFILLING
PERFORMANCE TESTING
CONTAINERS
BENTONITE
BRINES
HEATERS
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLYSIS
MAGNESIUM
PH VALUE
SALTS
SAND
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
WIPP
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLAYS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
LYSIS
MATERIALS
METALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SOLVOLYSIS
TESTING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage