Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-x24gv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-16T08:02:34.772Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Gas Generation and Migration from Radioactive Waste Repositories

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

P. J. Agg
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 424.4 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, 0X11 ORA, UK
P. J. Nash
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 424.4 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, 0X11 ORA, UK
W. R. Rodwell
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 424.4 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, 0X11 ORA, UK
T. R. Lineham
Affiliation:
AEA Technology, 424.4 Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, 0X11 ORA, UK
Get access

Abstract

During the post-closure phase of a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes significant quantities of gas will be generated, primarily by the anaerobic corrosion of metals and the degradation of organic wastes. A description is given of recent work carried out within the Nirex Safety Assessment Research Programme to address the generation of gas within a repository and the migration of gas from the repository to the biosphere. Theoretical modelling capabilities have been developed to address both of these issues. In order to gain confidence in such theoretical models, it is important to validate model predictions against observed experimental data. Preliminary experiments carried out to help validate the modelling approaches are described.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Agg, P. J., Moreton, A.D., Rees, J.H., Rodwell, W.R. and Sumner, P.J., Nsarp Reference Document: Gas Generation And Migration. January 1992, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/G120 (1993).Google Scholar
2. Jefferies, N.L., The Evolution of Carbon-14 and Tritium Containing Gases in a Radioactive Waste Repository, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R198 (1990).Google Scholar
3. Purdom, G. and Agg, P.J., GAMMON (Version 1A): A Computer Program Addressing Gas Generation in Radioactive Waste Repositories. Part A: Overview, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R338 Version 1A (Part A), Draft (1994).Google Scholar
4. Biddle, P. and Moreton, A.D., A Review of the Results and Understanding Achieved by the Nirex Research Programme on Gas Generation in a Repository for Radioactive Wastes, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R210, Draft (1994).Google Scholar
5. Kidby, D.W. and Rosevear, A., The Microbiological Basis of the Gas Generation Program GAMMON, UK Nirex Ltd Report in Preparation (1994).Google Scholar
6. McDonald, C., Ambrose, D., Brewer, A.J., Campbell, D.J.V., James, L. and Sopp, C., Investigations into the Potential Rates. Quality and Generated Pressure of Gas Generated from the Biodegradation of Simulated LLW, UK Nirex Ltd Report in Preparation (1994).Google Scholar
7. Purdom, G., Validation of the Computer Program GAMMON Using Small Bottle and Column Scale Experiments, UK Nirex Ltd Report in Preparation (1994).Google Scholar
8. Rodwell, W.R. and Nash, P.J., Mechanisms and Modelling of Gas Migration from Deep Radioactive Waste Repositories, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R250 (1992).Google Scholar
9. Nash, P.J. and Rodwell, W.R., Effects of Gas Overpressurisation on the Geological Environment of a Deep Repository, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R208 (1990).Google Scholar
10. Rodwell, W.R., Near-field Gas Migration a Preliminary Review, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R200 (1989).Google Scholar
11. Nash, P.J., Nash, G. and Rodwell, W.R.. Gas Escape from Vented Waste Canisters Grouted into a Repository Vault, UK Nirex Ltd Report NSS/R201 (1989).Google Scholar
12. Wikramaratna, R.S., Goodfield, M., Rodwell, W.R., Nash, P.J. and Agg, P.J., A Preliminary Assessment of Gas Migration from the Copper/Steel Canister, SKB Technical Report 93–91 (1993).Google Scholar
13. Rodwell, W.R. and Nash, P.J., Modelling of Far-field Gas Migration from a Deep Radioactive Waste Repository, Proceedings of an NEA Workshop on Gas Generation and Release from Radioactive Waste Repositories, Aix-en-Provence, 23–26 September 1991, (OECD, Paris, 1992).Google Scholar
14. Carlsson, J., Hoglund, L.O., Moreno, L., Skagius, K. and Wiborgh, M., Formulation and Evaluation of Gas Release Scenarios for the Silo in SFR, Proceedings of an NEA Workshop on Gas Generation and Release from Radioactive Waste Repositories, Aix-en-Provence, 23–26 September 1991, (OECD, Paris, 1992).Google Scholar
15. Wiborgh, M., Hogland, L.O. and Pers, K., Gas Formation in an L/ILW Repository and Gas Transport in the Host Rock, Nagra Technical Report NTB 85–17 (1986).Google Scholar
16. Holland, R.W. and Emerson, D.E., A Determination of the Helium-4 Content of Near-surface Atmospheric Air within the Continental United States, J. Geophys. Res. 92, B12557–12566 (1987).Google Scholar
17. Ball, T.K., Nicholson, R.A. and Peachey, D., Effects of Meteorological Variables on Certain Soil Gases Used to Detect Buried Ore Deposits, Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 92, B183190 (1983).Google Scholar
18. Lineham, T.R., Nash, P.J., Rodwell, W.R., Bolt, J., Watkins, V.M.B., Grainger, P., Heath, M.J. and Merefield, J.R., Gas Migration in Fractured Rock: Results and Modelling of a Helium Gas Injection Experiment at the Reskajeage Farm Test Site. S.W. England. United Kingdom, in Proceedings of the 4th Int. Conf. on Chemistry and Migration Behaviour of Actinides and Fission Products in the Geosphere (Migration ’93), Charleston, SC USA, December 1993 (also published in Radiochimica Acta, 1994).Google Scholar
19. Ponting, D.K., Foster, B.A., Naccache, P.F., Nicholas, M.O., Pollard, R.K., Rae, J., Banks, D. and Walsh, S.K., An Efficient Fullv Implicit Simulator, J. Soc. Petroleum Engineers 23, 544552 (1986).Google Scholar