Geological Repository Systems for Safe Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuels and Radioactive Waste

by Michael J Apted (Editor), Joonhong Ahn (Editor)

Overview

Geological disposal has been internationally adopted as the most effective approach to assure the long-term, safe disposition of the used nuclear fuels and radioactive waste materials produced from nuclear power generation, nuclear weapons programs, medical, treatments, and industrial applications. Geological repository systems take advantage of natural geological barriers augmented with engineered barrier systems to isolate these radioactive materials from the environment and from future populations.

Geological repository systems for safe disposal of spent nuclear fuels and radioactive waste critically reviews the state-of-the-art technologies, scientific methods, regulatory developments, and social engagement approaches directly related to the implementation of geological repository systems.

Part one introduces geological disposal, including multiple-barrier geological repositories, as well as reviewing the impact of nuclear fuel recycling practices and underground research laboratory activities on the development of disposal concepts. Part two reviews geological repository siting in different host rocks, including long-term stability analysis and radionuclide transport modelling. Reviews of the range of engineered barrier systems, including waste immobilisation technologies, container materials, low pH concretes, clay-based buffer and backfill materials, and barrier performance are presented in Part three. Part four examines total system performance assessment and safety analyses for deep geological and near-surface disposal, with coverage of uncertainty analysis, use of expert judgement for decision making, and development and use of knowledge management systems. Finally, Part five covers regulatory and social approaches for the establishment of geological disposal programs, from the development of radiation standards and risk-informed, performance-based regulations, to environmental monitoring and social engagement in the siting and operation of repositories.

With its distinguished international team of contributors, Geological repository systems for safe disposal of spent nuclear fuels and radioactive waste is a standard reference for all nuclear waste management and geological repository professionals and researchers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780081006528
Publisher:	Woodhead Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	05/25/2017
Series:	Woodhead Publishing Series in Energy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	802
File size:	173 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Dr. Apted has more than 25 years of experience in nuclear-waste disposal R&D, primarily in the design and testing of engineered barrier systems (EBS), hydrogeochemical modeling, and safety assessment. For the Electric Power Research Institute he is the R&D manager for post-closure risk assessment studies regarding disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at the Yucca Mountain site, Nevada, USA. He is a member of the International Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO), and serves as a coordinator for NUMO's International Tectonics Committee. Dr. Apted is Chairman of the EBS and Technology Support Group for STUK, the safety authority in Finland. He also has consulted for nuclear waste repository implementation and regulatory agencies in Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Canada, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Professor Joonhong Ahn is a Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He also serves as Geological Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Since 2010, he serves as a member of the international review committee for 2010 report compiled by Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan (NUMO) Fellowship Program by Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, US Department of Energy. He has been participating in the Coordinate Research Project by International Atomic Energy Agency for the topic of Role of Partitioning and Transmutation of High-Level Radioactive Wastes for Minimization of Environmental Impacts from Nuclear Fuel Cycle since 2002.

Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction to geological disposal of spent nuclear fuels and radioactive waste 1. Repository 101: Multiple-barrier geological repository design and operation strategy for safe disposal of radioactive materials 2. Effects of very long-term interim storage of spent nuclear fuels and HLW on subsequent geological disposal 3. Near-surface and intermediate depth disposal of low-level and short-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste 4. Deep borehole disposal for spent nuclear fuels, high-, low- and intermediate-level wastes 5. Underground research facilities and rock laboratories for the development of geological disposal concepts and repository systems Part II: Geological repository systems: characterization, site surveying and construction 6. Crystalline geological repository systems: characterization, site surveying and construction technologies and techniques 7. Clay geological repository systems: characterization and site surveying technologies and techniques 8. Salt repository systems: site selection, operation and closure technologies and techniques 9. Tuff repository systems: characterization and site surveying technologies and techniques 10. Assessing the long-term stability of geological environments for safe disposal of radioactive waste  11. Process analysis and radionuclide transport modeling for saturated media Part III: Engineered barrier systems for geological repositories: containment materials and technology 12. Immobilization of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste for safe disposal in geological repository systems 13. Near-field processes, evolution and performance assessment in geological repository systems 14.  Development and application of smectitic buffer and backfill materials in geological repository systems 15. Nuclear waste canister materials, corrosion behavior and long-term performance in geological repository systems Part IV: Performance assessment, expert judgment and knowledge management for geological repository systems 16. Performance assessment modeling for a disposal facility in an arid environment 17. Safety assessment for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in geological repository systems 18. Safety assessment for near-surface disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste 19. Treatment of uncertainty in performance assessments for the geological disposal of radioactive waste 20. Expert judgment of uncertainty: Application to science issues in siting facilities for geological disposal of radioactive waste 21. Bayesian Networks: Application to science issues in siting facilities for geological disposal of nuclear waste 22. Safeguardability of a geological repository for spent nuclear fuel Part V: Radiation protection, regulatory methodologies, environmental monitoring and social engagement for geological repository systems 23. Radiation protection principles and development of standards for geological repository systems 24. Development of risk-informed, performance-based regulations for geological repository systems 25. CLA process in Finland 26. Environmental monitoring programs and public engagement for siting and operation of geological repository systems: experience at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) 27. Application of knowledge management systems for safe geological disposal of radioactive waste 28. Methods for social dialogue in the establishment of radioactive waste management programmes 29. New horizons for geological management and disposal

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Fully updated guide on the most effective approaches for long-term, safe disposition of used nuclear fuels and radioactive waste materials

Editorial Reviews

"An unprecedented book reviewing every technologically important element of the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle." —Dr. A Suzuki, Nuclear Safety Commission, Japan

"Provides an urgently needed worldwide overview on the disposal of radioactive waste." —Prof. em. Dr.-Ing Kühn, GSF and Clausthal University of Technology, Germany

"A very valuable and useful work, since in addition to scientific and technological issues, the book draws attention to the critical role of independent regulatory review and social engagement, which are vital to the successful implementation of geological repository systems." —Dr Tero Varjoranta, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, STUK, Finland

From the Publisher