Publication Laka-library:
Retrievability of radioactive waste from a deep underground disposal facility (1994)
| Author | Heijdra, Bekkering, ECN |
| Date | October 1994 |
| Classification | 6.01.5.51/48 (WASTE - STORAGE ON LAND (f.i. SALT / CLAY) (INCL. SYNROC)) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
ABSTRACT A study has been performed into the feasibility and economic consequences of storing radioactive waste in the deep underground in a retrievable way. Based on storage in heavy containers two extreme options of retrievability have been investigated. One option is placement of the containers in an underground gallery and backfilling only the actual storage galleries, and keeping the repository in operational condition. The other option is placement in the galleries followed by backfilling and sealing the complete repository including the shafts. In this latter case construction of a complete new mine is necessary once retrieval of the waste becomes imperative. In the first option operational cost of the repository is an annual returning expenditure while in the second option the re-mining creates a large capital expenditure in the far future. There will be a point in time when the expenditure for the re-mining option will be less than the sum of the annual cost for keeping the repository in operating condition. This break even point has been determined for the three geological formations which are potentially suitable for the storage of radioactive waste within the European Union, viz. clay layers, granite, and rock salt. Moreover two different forms of waste have been treated, viz. the waste directly stored as packaged spent fuel, and storage of the vitrified waste resulting from fuel reprocessing. Several methods of retrieval have been compared and the most feasible method selected for the economic assessment. An extensive temperature analysis has been performed both of an individual container and of the complete repository. The consequences of the storage and retrieval of the hot waste containers for the stability of the underground excavations have been investigated using numerical models. The position of the break even points appears to be strongly dependent on the real return rate, and not very sensitive for the type or quantity of waste to be stored. For a real return rate of 5 percent the break even point for storage in clayis in the order of 35 to 40 years, for storage in granite in the order of 22 to 25 years and for storage in rock salt about 45 years.
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