Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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The influence of air gaps on buffer temperature within an engineered barrier system

  • Seok Yoon (Disposal Safety Evaluation Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Gi-Jun Lee (Disposal Safety Evaluation Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
  • Received : 2023.03.07
  • Accepted : 2023.07.24
  • Published : 2023.11.25
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Abstract

High-level radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants are disposed subterraneously utilizing an engineered barrier system (EBS). A gap inevitably exists between the disposal canisters and buffer materials, which may have a negative effect on the thermal transfer and water-blocking efficiency of the system. As few previous experimental works have quantified this effect, this study aimed to create an experimental model for investigating differences in the temperature changes of bentonite buffer in the presence and absence of air gaps between it and a surrounding stainless steel cell. Three test scenarios comprised an empty cell and cells partially or completely filled with bentonite. The temperature was measured inside the buffers and on the inner surface of their surrounding cells, which were artificially heated. The time required for the entire system to reach 100℃ was approximately 40% faster with no gap between the inner cell surface and the bentonite. This suggests that rock-buffer spaces should be filled in practice to ensure the rapid dissipation of heat from the buffer materials to their surroundings. However, it can be advantageous to retain buffer-canister gaps to lower the peak buffer temperature.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by the Nuclear Resdearch and Development Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (2021M2E3A2041351) and the Institute for Korea Spent Nuclear Fuel and the National Research Foundation of Korea (2021M2E1A1085193).

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