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Moving HLW-EBS Concepts into the 21st Century

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

I.G. McKinley
Affiliation:
Nagra (ISP), Hardstrasse 73, 5430 Wettingen, Switzerland, Email:mckinleyi@nagra.ch
H. Kawamura
Affiliation:
Obayashi Corporation, Design Department No. 2, Civil Engineering Technical Division, Shinagawa Intercity B-Building, 2-15-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8502 –Japan, Email: kawamura@o-net.obayashi.co.jp
H. Tsuchi
Affiliation:
The Federation of Electric Power Companies, 9-4, 1-Chome, Ohte-Machi, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-8118 -Japan, Email: h-tsuchi@fepc.office.co.jp
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Abstract

Most national high-level waste (HLW) disposal programs actually reflect, or are based on, concepts which were developed during the '70s or early '80s. Although suitable for demonstration of concept feasibility, designs of the engineered barrier system (EBS) do not take into account the tremendous developments in system understanding and materials technology over the last two decades, the practicality (and cost) of their quality assurance and implementation on an industrial scale and the transparency of the demonstration of the safety case. In many ways, due to the increased significance of popular acceptance over the last decade, the last point may be of particular relevance.

This paper reviews the work already carried out on “2nd generation” concepts and extends this to identify the key attributes of an ideal design for the specific case of disposal of vitrified HLW from reprocessing in a “wet” host rock (either crystalline or sedimentary). Based on the concept developed, key R&D requirements are identified.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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