A preliminary comparison study of two options for disposal of high-level waste. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Youn-Myoung; Choi, Heui-Joo; Kim, Kyungsu
• Is Part Of: Progress in nuclear energy. Volume 90(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 229
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Deep borehole disposal -- High-level radioactive waste repository -- GoldSim -- Safety assessment modeling -- Earthquake scenario -- Sensitivity study; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 333.7924
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.03.029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-1970

Abstract

Abstract: To compare two options for disposal of spent nuclear fuels (SFs) a generic GoldSim model for deep boreholes for disposal (DBD) of SFs was developed. As a desktop study, nuclide release and transport from a DBD after the closure of a repository were roughly evaluated and compared to a KBS-3 type disposal in a less deep geological repository (DGD). An assessment result from the DBD is shown to be remarkable and seems to give a sufficient radiological safety margin, compared to the DGD, even though this study was done in a very straightforward manner. A remarkable sensitivity of the travel lengths involved in the fractured geological media around the DBD to the exposure dose rates are not observed with rather fast and short travel times for non-sorbing nuclides with long-half lives. Highlights: A generic GoldSim model for safety assessment of a deep borehole disposal repository (DBD), into which spent nuclear fuels are to be disposed of was introduced. A simulation for the nuclide transport from the DBD through the near- and far-field of the repository system that could lead nuclides to the biosphere was made. Nuclide release and transport from a DBD and a deep geological disposal repository (DGD) were evaluated and compared with each other. A sensitivity study with varying nuclide travel lengths was also made.