Commonly proposed concepts, like KBS-3V, for disposal of highly radioactive waste imply construction at medium depth （400-600 m） in granitic rock, which is excellent for constructing a stable repository. VDH （very ...Commonly proposed concepts, like KBS-3V, for disposal of highly radioactive waste imply construction at medium depth （400-600 m） in granitic rock, which is excellent for constructing a stable repository. VDH （very deep boreholes） represent an altemative concept with the advantage that the rock is much less permeable and that the very salt, heavy groundwater is stagnant. Both require engineered barriers in the form of canisters and waste-embedding clay but for somewhat different purposes. Canisters are the most important waste-isolating barriers for KBS-3V but are less important for VDH. The waste-embedding clay is needed for preserving the KBS-3V canisters by being tight and ductile, but plays a minor role for the VDH. The backfilled deposition tunnels in a KBS-3V repository provide very limited hindrance of radionuclides to move to the biosphere while the clay seals of VDH effectively prevent possibly released radionuclides to reach up to the biosphere. Comparison of the KBS-3V and VDH concepts indicates that the last mentioned one has several advantages but that certain issues remain to be worked on for becoming a number one candidate.展开更多
Multibarrier systems are commonly proposed for effective isolation of highly radioactive waste (HLW). Presently considered concepts take the host rock as a barrier claiming it to retard migration of possibly released ...Multibarrier systems are commonly proposed for effective isolation of highly radioactive waste (HLW). Presently considered concepts take the host rock as a barrier claiming it to retard migration of possibly released radionuclides from HLW containers to the biosphere. This capacity is small unless water-bearing fracture zones intersecting the blasted waste-containing tunnels and excavation-disturbance zones around them can be sealed by grouting and construction of bulkheads, but this is effective only for a very limited period of time as explained in the paper. The disturbed zones thence make the entire repository serve as a continuous hydraulic conductor causing quick transport of released radionuclides up to the biosphere. The dilemma can be solved by accepting the shortcircuiting function of the disturbed zones along the tunnels on the condition that totally tight waste containers be used. Deep holes bored in the site selection phase through the forthcoming repository can be effective pathways for radionuclides unless they are properly sealed. They are small-scale equivalents of tunnels but do not have any excavation damage and can be effectively sealed by using clay and concrete of new types. Applying this principle to very deep boreholes with a diameter of a few decimeters would make it possible to safely store slim, tight HLW canisters for any period of time.展开更多
文摘Commonly proposed concepts, like KBS-3V, for disposal of highly radioactive waste imply construction at medium depth （400-600 m） in granitic rock, which is excellent for constructing a stable repository. VDH （very deep boreholes） represent an altemative concept with the advantage that the rock is much less permeable and that the very salt, heavy groundwater is stagnant. Both require engineered barriers in the form of canisters and waste-embedding clay but for somewhat different purposes. Canisters are the most important waste-isolating barriers for KBS-3V but are less important for VDH. The waste-embedding clay is needed for preserving the KBS-3V canisters by being tight and ductile, but plays a minor role for the VDH. The backfilled deposition tunnels in a KBS-3V repository provide very limited hindrance of radionuclides to move to the biosphere while the clay seals of VDH effectively prevent possibly released radionuclides to reach up to the biosphere. Comparison of the KBS-3V and VDH concepts indicates that the last mentioned one has several advantages but that certain issues remain to be worked on for becoming a number one candidate.
文摘Multibarrier systems are commonly proposed for effective isolation of highly radioactive waste (HLW). Presently considered concepts take the host rock as a barrier claiming it to retard migration of possibly released radionuclides from HLW containers to the biosphere. This capacity is small unless water-bearing fracture zones intersecting the blasted waste-containing tunnels and excavation-disturbance zones around them can be sealed by grouting and construction of bulkheads, but this is effective only for a very limited period of time as explained in the paper. The disturbed zones thence make the entire repository serve as a continuous hydraulic conductor causing quick transport of released radionuclides up to the biosphere. The dilemma can be solved by accepting the shortcircuiting function of the disturbed zones along the tunnels on the condition that totally tight waste containers be used. Deep holes bored in the site selection phase through the forthcoming repository can be effective pathways for radionuclides unless they are properly sealed. They are small-scale equivalents of tunnels but do not have any excavation damage and can be effectively sealed by using clay and concrete of new types. Applying this principle to very deep boreholes with a diameter of a few decimeters would make it possible to safely store slim, tight HLW canisters for any period of time.
