Assessment of the infiltration behaviour of buffer material in seawater-type groundwater environments using a coupled THMC analysis model (Contract research)

Suzuki, Hideaki*; Takayama, Yusuke; Sato, Hisashi*; Watahiki, Takanori*; Sato, Daisuke*

JAEA-Research 2022-013, 41 Pages, 2023/03

JAEA-Research-2022-013.pdf:3.99MB

It is anticipated that the coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical and chemical (THMC) processes will occur, involving an interactive process with radioactive decay heat arising from the vitrified waste, infiltration of groundwater from the host rock into the buffer material, swelling pressure of buffer material due to its saturation and chemical reaction between bentonite and pore-water in the near-field of a geological disposal system for high-level radioactive waste repository. In order to evaluate these phenomena in the near-field, the THMC model has been developed. In this study, For the purpose of evaluating the near-field infiltration behavior in seawater-type groundwater environment, a hydraulic model was set in which the permeability of the buffer material change depending on the salt concentration in the pore-water. In order to evaluate the drying phenomenon of the buffer material due to waste heat, a temperature gradient water transfer model was set in consideration of the dependence of temperature and pore-water saturation. The THMC analysis of the in-situ experiment of engineered barrier system (EBS) experiment at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory was carried out. The validity of the model was then checked through comparison with measured data.

Optical measurement of the salinity distribution by saltwater intrusion experiment

Oda, Yoshihiro; Takasu, Tamio*; Sato, Hisashi; Sawada, Atsushi; Watahiki, Takanori*

Doboku Gakkai Rombunshu, C (Chiken Kogaku) (Internet), 67(2), p.186 - 197, 2011/04

http://joi.jlc.jst.go.jp/JST.JSTAGE/jscejge/67.186

Because of the density difference between fresh groundwater and saline groundwater, the groundwater behaves complicated flow. It is well known that the expected barrier functions such as candidate buffer materials and others for high level radioactive waste geological isolation are inhibited by the saline water. The simulations have been required to evaluate the groundwater flow, because the available data by in-situ investigation of the saline and fresh ground water flows is very limited. In the simulation, the complex coupled process of advection-dispersion, seepage flow and density drive flow should be implemented in the simulation codes. The extensive verification studies have been done for modeling and simulation codes until now, but those results were compared only with qualitative experimental data. For the quantitative evaluations, we developed the quantitative measurement technique by optical method for saltwater intrusion, especially for the saltwater concentration distribution in transition zone, on laboratory experiment. We have obtained the quantitative data of the shape of saltwater wedge and saltwater concentration distribution at both transient and steady states.

The Outline of investigation on integrity of JMTR concrete structures, cooling system and utility facilities

Ebisawa, Hiroyuki; Hanakawa, Hiroki; Asano, Norikazu; Kusunoki, Hidehiko; Yanai, Tomohiro; Sato, Shinichi; Miyauchi, Masaru; Oto, Tsutomu; Kimura, Tadashi; Kawamata, Takanori; et al.

JAEA-Technology 2009-030, 165 Pages, 2009/07

JAEA-Technology-2009-030.pdf:69.18MB

The condition of facilities and machinery used continuously were investigated before the renewal work of JMTR on FY 2007. The subjects of investigation were reactor building, primary cooling system tanks, secondary cooling system piping and tower, emergency generator and so on. As the result, it was confirmed that some facilities and machinery were necessary to repair and others were used continuously for long term by maintaining on the long-term maintenance plan. JMTR is planed to renew by the result of this investigation.