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Postclosure Analysis of the Range of Design Thermal Loadings

This report presents a two-phased approach to develop and analyze a “thermal envelope” to represent the postclosure response of the repository to the anticipated range of repository design thermal loadings. In Phase 1 an estimated limiting waste stream (ELWS) is identified and analyzed to determine the extremes of average and local thermal loading conditions. The coldest thermal loading condition is represented by an emplacement drift loaded exclusively with high-level radioactive waste (HLW) and/or defense spent nuclear fuel (DSNF).

WHF and RF Thermal Evaluation

The purpose of this analysis is to estimate the peak fuel assembly cladding temperature within the transportation casks that will be received in the WHF and RF, and to compare this value with established temperature limits. Thermally limiting scenarios are evaluated for both normal and off-normal operating conditions, with the off-normal condition defined as a loss of active ventilation. A second purpose of this analysis is to identify a specific room in the surface facilities as thermally limiting of all the rooms, with respect to the potentially highest temperatures on the concrete walls.
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