The 12th International Conference on Environmental ... - Events

Session 29-30 Abstracts
4) IMPLEMENTATION OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL FACILITY (GDF) IN THE UK BY THE NDA RWMD:
COUPLED MODELLING OF GAS GENERATION AND MULTI-PHASE FLOW BETWEEN
THE CO-LOCATED ILW AND HLW/SF COMPONENTS OF A GDF - 16307
Alex Bond, George Towler, Alan Paulley, Quintessa Limited (UK); Simon Norris, NDA RWMD (UK)
In June 2008 the UK government published a White Paper as part of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safety(MRWS) programme
to provide a framework for managing higher activity radioactive wastes in the long-term through geological disposal. <strong>The</strong>
White Paper identifies that there are benefits to disposing all of the UKs higher activity wastes (Low and Intermediate Level Waste
(LLW and ILW), High Level Waste (HLW), Spent Fuel (SF), Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu)) at the same site, and this is currently
the preferred option. It also notes that research will be required to support the detailed design and safety assessment in relation
to any potentially detrimental interactions between the different modules.
Different disposal system designs and associated Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) will be required for these different waste
types, i.e. ILW/LLW and HLW/SF. If declared as waste U would be disposed as ILW and Pu as HLW/SF. <strong>The</strong> Geological Disposal
Facility (GDF) would therefore comprise two co-located modules (respectively for ILW/LLW and HLW/SF).
A study has recently been undertaken by NDA RWMD to identify the key <strong>The</strong>rmo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical (THMC)
interactions which might occur during both the operational and post-closure phases in order to assess the potential implications of
co-location in a range of host rocks. This paper presents supporting modelling work used to help understand the potential interactions
between the modules. A multi-phase flow and coupled gas generation model was used to help investigate the potential groundwater
and gas fluxes between the modules, in particular considering the operational phase and resaturation behaviour of the different
modules. <strong>The</strong>se early phases are important because gas generation rates and hydraulic gradients will be at their maximum, and
the pressure gradients associated with GDF operations will, at least initially, dominate over the background hydraulic gradient.
SESSION 30 - SPENT FUEL, HLW, AND TRU WASTE MANAGEMENT - CROSSCUTTING ISSUES
1) THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT(DOE-EM)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE PROGRAM - EFFORTS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE
STATEMENT OF INTENT BETWEEN DOE-EM AND U.K. NUCLEAR DECOMMISSIONING
AUTHORITY (NDA) AND FUTURE INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES – 16338
Steven L. Krahn, Kurt D. Gerdes, Ana M. Han, U.S.Department of Energy (USA); James Marra, SRNL (USA)
<strong>The</strong> DOE-EM Office of Engineering and Technology is responsible for implementing EM’s international cooperative program.
<strong>The</strong> Office of Engineering and Technology’s international efforts are aimed at supporting EM’s mission of risk reduction and accelerated
cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation's nuclear weapons program and government-sponsored nuclear energy
research. To do this, EM pursues collaborations with government organizations, educational institutions, and private industry to
identify and develop technologies that can address the site cleanup needs of DOE.
A Statement of Intent was signed between DOE-EM and the NDA to work cooperatively on areas of mutual interest. Under
this umbrella, discussions were held with NDA representatives to identify potential areas for collaboration. Information and technical
exchanges were identified as near-term actions to help meet the objectives of the Statement of Intent. <strong>The</strong> organizations have
shared planning and technology need documents. Comparisons of these documents were used to identify target areas for future collaborative
work. Information exchanges have already occurred in several areas. Information and experience in conducting technology
readiness assessments has been shared between the organizations. This included completed technology readiness assessment
reports, as well as technology maturation plans. A near-term goal is to have members from each organization participate or observe
the readiness assessment process of the other organization. Information exchanges have also occurred in two other areas. Several
videoconferences have been conducted between vitrification experts supporting the work of both DOE-EM and the NDA. In these
videoconferences current research and technology focus areas have been discussed. Technical documents have also been exchanged
in areas of mutual interest. Similar videoconferences have been held with experts involved in the area of nuclear materials science
and engineering. Specific discussions have focused on materials challenges associated with environmental management and
cleanup.
2) IMPLEMENTATION OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL FACILITY (GDF) IN THE UK BY THE NDA RWMD:
THE POTENTIAL FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CO-LOCATED ILW/LLW AND HLW/SF
COMPONENTS OF A GDF - 16306
George Towler, Quintessa Limited (UK); Tim Hicks, Galson Sciences Ltd (UK);
Sarah Watson, Quintessa Limited (UK); Simon Norris, NDA RWMD (UK)
In June 2008 the UK government published a White Paper as part of the Managing Radioactive Waste Safety (MRWS) programme
to provide a framework for managing higher activity radioactive wastes in the long-term through geological disposal. <strong>The</strong>
White Paper identifies that there are benefits to disposing all of the UKs higher activity wastes (Low and Intermediate Level Waste
(LLW and ILW), High Level Waste (HLW), Spent Fuel (SF), Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu)) at the same site, and this is currently
the preferred option. It also notes that research will be required to support the detailed design and safety assessment in relation
to any potentially detrimental interactions between the different modules.
Different disposal system designs and associated Engineered Barrier Systems (EBS) will be required for these different waste
types, i.e. ILW/LLW and HLW/SF. If declared as waste U would be disposed as ILW and Pu as HLW/SF. <strong>The</strong> Geological Disposal
Facility (GDF) would therefore comprise two co-located modules (respectively for ILW/LLW and HLW/SF). This paper presents
an overview of a study undertaken to assess the implications of co-location by identifying the key <strong>The</strong>rmo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical
(THMC) interactions that might occur during both the operational and post-closure phases, and their consequences
for GDF design, performance and safety.
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