Skip to main content

One Step at a Time: The Staged Development of Geologic Repositories for High-Level Radioactive Waste - Summary

A new report from the National Academies proposes a management approach called “adaptive staging” as a promising means to develop geologic repositories for high-level waste such as the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Adaptive staging is a learn-as-you-go process that enables project managers to continuously reevaluate and adjust the program in response to new knowledge and stakeholder input.

Data Analysis for Infiltration Modeling: Extracted Weather Station Data Used to Represent Present-Day and Potential Future Climate Conditions in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain

The purpose of this analysis is to identify, extract, and reformat weather (meteorological) data that is appropriate for use as input to an infiltration model, within the Yucca Mountain region. The analysis uses relevant meteorological data (e.g., precipitation and temperature) from source stations, and reformats or converts the data into a form suitable for the generation of meteorological conditions for a 10,000-year future climate in the Yucca Mountain region.

Commercial Spent Nuclear Fuel Waste Package Misload Analysis

The purpose of this calculation is to estimate the probability of misloading a commercial spent
nuclear fuel waste package with a fuel assembly(s) that has a reactivity (i.e., enrichment and/or
burnup) outside the waste package design. The waste package designs are based on the expected
commercial spent nuclear fuel assemblies and previous analyses (Macheret, P. 2001, Section 4.1
and Table 1). For this calculation, a misloaded waste package is defined as a waste package that

In-Drift Precipitates/Salts Model

This report documents the development and validation of the in-drift precipitates/salts (IDPS) process model. The IDPS process model is a geochemical model designed to predict the postclosure effects of evaporation and deliquescence on the chemical composition of water within the Engineered Barrier System (EBS) in support of the total system performance assessment (TSPA). Application of the model in support of TSPA is documented in Engineered Barrier System: Physical and Chemical Environment (BSC 2005 [DIRS 175083]).

Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) Reactor Fuel Criticality Calculations

The purpose of these calculations is to characterize the criticality safety concerns for the storage of Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) nuclear fuel in a Department of Energy spent nuclear fuel (DOE SNF) canister in a co-disposal waste package. These results will be used to support the analysis that will be done to demonstrate concept viability related to use in the Monitored Geologic Repository (MGR) environment.

44-BWR WASTE PACKAGE LOADING CURVE EVALUATION

The objective of this calculation is to evaluate the required minimum burnup as a function of initial boiling water reactor (BWR) assembly enrichment that would permit loading of spent nuclear fuel into the 44 BWR waste package configuration as provided in Attachment IV. This calculation is an application of the methodology presented in ''Disposal Criticality Analysis Methodology Topical Report'' (YMP 2003). The scope of this calculation covers a range of enrichments from 0 through 5.0 weight percent (wt%) U-235, and a burnup range of 0 through 40 GWd/MTU.

General Corrosion and Localized Corrosion of the Drip Shield

The repository design includes a drip shield (BSC 2004 [DIRS 168489]) that provides protection for the waste package both as a barrier to seepage water contact and a physical barrier to potential rockfall.
The purpose of the process-level models developed in this report is to model dry oxidation, general corrosion, and localized corrosion of the drip shield plate material, which is made of Ti Grade 7. This document is prepared ·according to Technical Work Plan For: Regulatory Integration Modeling and Analysis of the Waste Form and Waste Package (BSC 2004 [DIRS 171583]).

Analysis of Critical Benchmark Experiments for Configurations External to WP

The Disposal Criticality Analysis Methodology Topical Report (Reference 1) states that the accuracy of the criticality analysis methodology (MCNP Monte Carlo code and cross-section data) designated to assess the potential for criticality of various configurations in the Yucca Mountain proposed repository is established by evaluating appropriately selected benchmark critical experiments.

Disclaimer: Note that this page contains links to external sites. When leaving the CURIE site, please note that the U.S. Department of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory do not control or endorse the content or ads on these sites.