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Post-Closure Safety Analysis of Nuclear Waste Disposal in Deep Vertical Boreholes

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Finsterle

    (Finsterle GeoConsulting, 315 Vassar Ave, Kensington, CA 94708, USA)

  • Richard A. Muller

    (Deep Isolation Inc., 2001 Addison St, Suite 300/Office 311, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • John Grimsich

    (Deep Isolation Inc., 2001 Addison St, Suite 300/Office 311, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • Ethan A. Bates

    (Deep Isolation Inc., 2001 Addison St, Suite 300/Office 311, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • John Midgley

    (Deep Isolation Inc., 2001 Addison St, Suite 300/Office 311, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

Abstract

Isolation of spent nuclear fuel assemblies in deep vertical boreholes is analyzed. The main safety features of the borehole concept are related to the repository’s great depth, implying (a) long migration distances and correspondingly long travel times, allowing radionuclides to decay, (b) separation of the repository from the dynamic hydrological cycle near the land surface, (c) stable geological and hydrogeological conditions, and (d) a geochemically reducing environment. An integrated simulation model of the engineered and natural barrier systems has been developed to examine multiple scenarios of the release of radionuclides from the waste canisters, the transport through a fractured porous host rock, and the extraction of potentially contaminated drinking water from an aquifer. These generic simulations include thermal effects from both the natural geothermal gradient and the heat-generating waste, the influence of topography on regional groundwater flow, moderated by salinity stratification at depth, and the role of borehole sealing. The impact of these processes on the transport of select radionuclides is studied, which include long-lived, soluble, sorbing or highly mobile isotopes along with a decay chain of safety-relevant actinide metals. The generic analyses suggest that a deep vertical borehole repository has the potential to be a safe option for the disposal of certain waste streams, with the depth itself and the stable hydrogeological environment encountered in the emplacement zone providing inherent long-term isolation, which allows for reduced reliance on a complex engineered barrier system.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Finsterle & Richard A. Muller & John Grimsich & Ethan A. Bates & John Midgley, 2021. "Post-Closure Safety Analysis of Nuclear Waste Disposal in Deep Vertical Boreholes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:19:p:6356-:d:650065
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Geoff A. Freeze & Emily Stein & Patrick V. Brady & Carlos Lopez & David Sassani & Karl Travis & Fergus Gibb & John Beswick, 2019. "Deep Borehole Disposal Safety Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Stefan Finsterle & Richard A. Muller & John Grimsich & John Apps & Rod Baltzer, 2020. "Post-Closure Safety Calculations for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel in a Generic Horizontal Drillhole Repository," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-31, May.
    3. Douglas Easterling, 1992. "Fair rules for siting a high-level nuclear waste repository," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 11(3), pages 442-475.
    4. Richard A. Muller & Stefan Finsterle & John Grimsich & Rod Baltzer & Elizabeth A. Muller & James W. Rector & Joe Payer & John Apps, 2019. "Disposal of High-Level Nuclear Waste in Deep Horizontal Drillholes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Neil A. Chapman, 2019. "Who Might Be Interested in a Deep Borehole Disposal Facility for Their Radioactive Waste?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, April.
    6. Bates, E.A. & Driscoll, M.J. & Lester, R.K. & Arnold, B.W., 2014. "Can deep boreholes solve America׳s nuclear waste problem?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 186-189.
    7. Stefan Finsterle & Richard A. Muller & Rod Baltzer & Joe Payer & James W. Rector, 2019. "Thermal Evolution near Heat-Generating Nuclear Waste Canisters Disposed in Horizontal Drillholes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-23, February.
    8. Guido Bracke & Wolfram Kudla & Tino Rosenzweig, 2019. "Status of Deep Borehole Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Katarzyna Kiegiel, 2022. "Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-3, June.

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