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Sugita, Yutaka*; Takahashi, Yoshiaki*; Uragami, Manabu*; Kitayama, Kazumi*; Fujita, Tomoo; Yui, Mikazu
JAEA-Research 2007-023, 70 Pages, 2007/03
JAEA-Research-2007-023.pdf:26.16MB
The sealing performance of a repository is very important for the safety assessment of the geological disposal system for high-level radioactive waste. NUMO and JAEA set up a technical commission to investigate sealing technology in a repository in 2004 following a cooperation agreement between these two organisations. The objectives of this commission were to present a concept of sealing performance required in the disposal system and to direct future R&D for design requirements of closure components (backfilling material, clay plug, etc.). Hydraulic analyses on tunnel intersections were carried out during the first year in 2004. This was expanded into a hydraulic analysis of a complete disposal panel with all tunnels during the second year in 2005. Since the model structure in 2005 was more complicated than the one used in 2004, the concept of equivalent permeability was adopted in and around each tunnel in the hydraulic analyses. Parameters used in the hydraulic analyses were installation positions of clay plugs, permeability of the backfilling material, permeability of disposal tunnel and directions of hydraulic gradient to estimate influences to the analytical results preliminary. Analytical results showed that flow rate in a disposal tunnel was influenced by directions of hydraulic gradient, installation of the clay plug at the both ends of each disposal tunnel and permeability of the main tunnel.
Sugita, Yutaka; Fujita, Tomoo; Takahashi, Yoshiaki*; Kawakami, Susumu; Umeki, Hiroyuki; Yui, Mikazu; Uragami, Manabu*; Kitayama, Kazumi*
Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 32(1-7), p.32 - 41, 2007/00
Times Cited Count：6 Percentile：20.74(Geosciences, Multidisciplinary)The H12 repository concept for vitrified high-level radioactive waste was developed based on a multi-barrier system with the emphasis on robust engineered barrier performance to ensure its feasibility for a wide range of geological conditions typically observed in Japan. The buffer is clay-based and plays a very important role in the engineered barrier system (EBS). The decision to use a volunteer siting process requires maximum flexibility of the repository concept to allow it to be adapted to potential sites and hence a wide range of variants of the basic H12 repository design has been developed. In order to evaluate the feasibility and the applicability of different repository options to specific siting environments, NUMO has established a set of "design factors" which classify the aspects that need to be considered when evaluating the pros and cons of different repository options. A Na-type bentonite from Japan is used as the reference material for all clay-based repository components (buffer, backfill, clay plug, etc.). The characteristics of this bentonite (thermal, mechanical, chemical, hydraulic) have been examined with consideration of various practical constraints (limitation on the repository footprint, the influence of saline water, the interaction of hyperalkaline leachates and practical working environment, etc.). Clay-based seals, which close off the tunnels after emplacement of the EBS, may also be key components for assessment of the repository. Full analyses considering all engineered barrier components (buffer, backfill, clay plug, concrete lining, tunnel, concrete plug, host rock) that may be used in a repository will be an essential future task. As a first step towards this goal, a numerical analysis focusing on hydraulic behaviour at the intersections of the disposal tunnels and the main tunnel is presented to illustrate how the design requirements of clay-based seals can be determined.
Sugita, Yutaka*; Fujita, Tomoo; Takahashi, Yoshiaki*; Kawakami, Susumu; Umeki, Hiroyuki; Yui, Mikazu; Uragami, Manabu*
JNC TN8400 2005-016, 49 Pages, 2005/09
JNC-TN8400-2005-016.pdf:5.45MB
The sealing performance of a repository should be considered in the safety assessment of the geological disposal system of the high level radioactive waste. Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan and Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute are examining the sealing performance of the closure components (backfilling material and clay plug) to present the concept on the sealing performance required to the disposal system, and to develop the direction for the future R&D programme for the design requirements of the closure components of the presented concepts.The first step of this examination reviewed the current status of the domestic and the international sealing technologies, summarized the repository components and the repository environments, and performed the hydraulic analysis considering components on the intersections of a main tunnel and a disposal tunnel in a disposal panel and in and around the engineered barrier system (EBS). Since all tunnels connect in the underground facility, understanding of hydraulic behaviour at the intersections of the tunnels is the important issue to estimate migration of radionuclides from the EBS, and to evaluate the required sealing performance for the disposal system. The considering components in the analysis model are the intersections of the disposal tunnel and the main tunnel, the waste package, the EBS, the backfilling material, the clay plug, the concrete plug, the excavated disturbed zone, the tunnel lining and the host rock. Alteration of the concrete material (tunnel lining and concrete plug) is described as variation of the hydraulic conductivity of it. Sites of emplacement of the clay plug are the disposal tunnel and the main tunnel. No clay plug condition is also analysed. Effect of the clay plug is discussed by the results of these analyses.
