Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
In parallel to studies of disposal of vitrified high-level waste fromreprocessing, projects have been initiated to examine options for directdisposal of spent fuel in Switzerland. The basic concept involves in-tunnelemplacement of encapsulated spent fuel in a deep repository which isbackfilled with compacted bentonite. Two possible host rocks are considered- crystalline basement and Opalinus Clay. This paper reports the results ofa thermal analysis which was carried out to evaluate constraints onrepository layout set by the desire to limit temperatures experienced by thebentonite backfill.