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SR 97: Spent Fuel Alteration/Dissolution and the Influence of Near Field Hydrogen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

Kastriot Spahiu  and
Patrik Sellin
Kastriot Spahiu
Affiliation:
Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 5864, S-102 40, Stockholm, Sweden
Patrik Sellin
Affiliation:
Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co. (SKB), Box 5864, S-102 40, Stockholm, Sweden
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Abstract

A discussion of the evaluation of the source term in the SR 97 safety assessment of a deep repository for spent nuclear fuel is presented. Since the majority of the radionuclides are embedded in the uranium dioxide fuel matrix, they will be released only after the alteration/dissolution of the matrix. Therefore a description of the process of alteration/dissolution of the spent fuel matrix is needed in a safety assessment.

Under normal repository conditions, i.e. reducing environment and neutral to alkaline pH, uranium dioxide has a very low solubility in water. If solubility is assumed to be the limiting factor, the dissolution of the fuel matrix will proceed very slowly due to the low water exchange in the defective canister. On this basis, a solubility-limited model for the release of the radionuclides from the fuel may be formulated.

The reducing conditions can be upset by the radioactivity of the spent fuel, which generates oxidizing products through water radiolysis. This causes the oxidative alteration/dissolution of the UO2(s) matrix. A model for fuel matrix conversion resulting from radiolytic oxidative dissolution is discussed, as well as parameter variations and the associated uncertainties.

In a repository the spent fuel will come in contact with groundwater after the copper canister has breached. Large amounts of hydrogen are then produced through the anoxic corrosion of the cast iron insert. Recent data on spent fuel leaching in presence of repository relevant hydrogen pressures and the implications on the actual and future spent fuel dissolution modeling will also be discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 663: Symposium – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste management XXIV , 2000 , 765
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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