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2021 Vol.31, Issue 4 Preview Page

Original Article

A Numerical Study of the Performance Assessment of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) Processes in Improved Korean Reference Disposal System (KRS+) for High-Level Radioactive Waste

수치해석을 활용한 향상된 한국형 기준 고준위방사성폐기물 처분시스템의 열-수리-역학적 복합거동 성능평가

Kwang-Il Kim1
,
Changsoo Lee2*
,
Jin-Seop Kim3
김 광일1
,
이 창수2*
,
김 진섭3
1Post-Doctoral Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
2Senior Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
3Principal Researcher, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
1한국원자력연구원 박사후연수자
2한국원자력연구원 선임연구원
3한국원자력연구원 책임연구원
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2021. pp. 221-242
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Abstract

A numerical study of the performance assesment of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes in improved Korean reference disposal system (KRS+) for high-level radioactive waste is conducted using TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D simulator. Decay heat from high-level radioactive waste increases the temperature of the repository, and it decreases as decay heat is reduced. The maximum temperature of the repository is below a maximum temperature criterion of 100℃. Saturation of bentonite buffer adjacent to the canister is initially reduced due to pore water evaporation induced by temperature increase. Bentonite buffer is saturated 250 years after the disposal of high-level radioactive waste by inflow of groundwater from the surrounding rock mass. Initial saturation of rock mass decreases as groundwater in rock mass is moved to bentnonite buffer by suction, but rock mass is saturated after inflow of groundwater from the far-field area. Stress changes at rock mass are compared to the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion and the spalling strength in order to investigate the potential rock failure by thermal stress and swelling pressure. Additional simulations are conducted with the reduced spacing of deposition holes. The maximum temperature of bentonite buffer exceeds 100℃ as deposition hole spacing is smaller than 5.5 m. However, temperature of about 56.1% volume of bentonite buffer is below 90℃. The methodology of numerical modeling used in this study can be applied to the performance assessment of coupled THM processes for high-level radioactive waste repositories with various input parameters and geological conditions such as site-specific stress models and geothermal gradients.

Keywords
High-level radioactive waste disposal
Improved Korean reference disposal system
Performance assessment
Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes
Numerical modeling

기존의 한국형 기준 처분시스템의 처분 효율을 높인 향상된 한국형 기준 처분시스템(Improved Korean Reference Disposal System, KRS+)의 열-수리-역학적 복합거동 성능평가를 위해 TOUGH2-MP/FLAC3D를 이용한 수치모델링 연구가 수행되었다. 사용후핵연료 처분 이후 방사성 붕괴열에 의해 처분시스템의 온도가 상승하고, 방사성 붕괴열이 빠르게 감소함에 따라 온도가 감소하여 최대 온도가 설계 기준 온도인 100℃를 넘지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 완충재의 초기 포화도는 온도 상승으로 인한 공극수의 증발로 인해 감소하였다가 주변 암반으로부터 지하수가 유입되어 처분 약 250년 후 포화 상태에 이르렀다. 암반에서는 완충재와 암반의 흡입력의 차이로 인해 암반에서 완충재로 지하수가 유입되어 처분 직후 포화도가 감소하다가 이후 원계 암반으로부터 지하수가 유입되어 포화 상태에 도달했다. 처분시스템 내 열응력과 팽윤압 발생에 의한 주변 암반의 파괴 가능성을 평가하고자 모어-쿨롱 파괴기준식과 스폴링 강도를 사용하였다. KRS+ 처분시스템의 처분공의 간격을 감소시키면서 처분시스템의 열적 거동 변화를 확인하였는데, 처분공 간격이 5.5 m 이하에서는 완충재의 설계 기준 온도를 초과하게 된다. 다만, 벤토나이트 완충재 부피의 56.1%의 온도는 90℃ 이하로 유지되었다. 본 연구에서 사용한 수치해석 기법은 향후 응력 모델, 지온 경사 및 입력 물성을 변화시킨 다양한 조건에서의 처분시스템의 THM 복합거동 성능평가에 활용할 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

키워드
고준위방사성폐기물 처분
향상된 한국형 기준 처분시스템
성능평가
열-수리-역학적 복합거동
수치모델링
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국암반공학회
  • Journal Title :Tunnel and Underground Space
  • Journal Title(Ko) :터널과 지하공간
  • Volume : 31
  • No :4
  • Pages :221-242
  • Received Date : 2021-07-22
  • Revised Date : 2021-08-03
  • Accepted Date : 2021-08-06
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7474/TUS.2021.31.4.221
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