Tunnel and Underground Space (터널과지하공간)

Korean Society for Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering (한국암반공학회)
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Introduction to Tasks in the International Cooperation Project, DECOVALEX-2023 for the Simulation of Coupled Thermohydro-mechanical-chemical Behavior in a Deep Geological Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste

고준위방사성폐기물 처분장 내 열-수리-역학-화학적 복합거동 해석을 위한 국제공동연구 DECOVALEX-2023에서 수행 중인 연구 과제 소개

  • Kim, Taehyun (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Lee, Changsoo (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Kim, Jung-Woo (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Kang, Sinhang (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Kwon, Saeha (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Kim, Kwang-Il (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)) ;
  • Park, Jung-Wook (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)) ;
  • Park, Chan-Hee (Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Seop (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI))
  • Received : 2021.06.18
  • Accepted : 2021.06.24
  • Published : 2021.06.30
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Abstract

It is essential to understand the complex thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupled behavior in the engineered barrier system and natural barrier system to secure the high-level radioactive waste repository's long-term safety. The heat from the high-level radioactive waste induces thermal pressurization and vaporization of groundwater in the repository system. Groundwater inflow affects the saturation variation in the engineered barrier system, and the saturation change influences the heat transfer and multi-phase flow characteristics in the buffer. Due to the complexity of the coupled behavior, a numerical simulation is a valuable tool to predict and evaluate the THMC interaction effect on the disposal system and safety assessment. To enhance the knowledge of THMC coupled interaction and validate modeling techniques in geological systems. DECOVALEX, an international cooperation project, was initiated in 1992, and KAERI has participated in the projects since 2008 in Korea. In this study, we introduced the main contents of all tasks in the DECOVALEX-2023, the current DECOVALEX phase, to the rock mechanics and geotechnical researchers in Korea.

고준위방사성폐기물 처분장의 장기 안전성 확보를 위해서는 공학적방벽 및 천연방벽 내에서 발생하는 복잡한 열-수리-역학-화학적(THMC) 복합거동 해석에 대한 이해가 필수적이다. 특히 고준위방사성폐기물에서 발생하는 열로 인해 암반 및 완충재 내의 지하수에서 압력 증가 및 상변화가 발생하게 되며, 지하수의 유입으로 인해 공학적방벽 내 포화도가 변화하게 된다. 또한 포화도의 변화는 완충재 내에서의 열전달 및 다상 유동 특성에 영향을 미치게 된다. 따라서 복합거동 특성의 복잡성으로 인해 수치해석은 처분시스템에서의 THMC 복합거동 평가와 예측 및 안전성 평가에 있어 강점을 지니고 있으며, DECOVALEX 국제공동연구는 THMC 복합거동에 대한 이해도 증진 및 해석기법 검증을 목적으로 1992년부터 시작되었다. 국내에서는 2008년부터 한국원자력연구원이 지속적으로 참여하여 연구를 수행하고 있으며, 본 기술보고에서는 현재 진행 중인 DECOVALEX-2023의 주요 연구내용을 국내 암반 및 지반공학자들에게 소개하였다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors appreciate and thank the DECOVALEX-2023 Funding Organisations Andra, BASE, BGE, BGR, CAS, CNSC, COVRA, US DOE, ENRESA, ENSI, JAEA, KAERI, NWMO, RWM, SURAO, SSM and Taipower for their financial and technical support of the work described in this paper. The statements made in the paper are, however, solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Funding Organisations. This research was also supported by the Institute for Korea Spent Nuclear Fuel (iKSNF) and National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Science and ICT, MSIT) (2021M2E1A1085193) and the Basic Research Project of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM, GP2020-010) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Korea.

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