• 한국지반공학회논문집
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

심층 처분방식은 고준위폐기물을 처분하기 위한 가장 적합한 대안으로 고려되어지고 있다. 심층 처분시설은 지하 500~1,000m 깊이의 암반층에 설치되며 심층 처분시스템의 구성 요소로는 처분용기, 완충재, 뒷채움 및 근계 암반이 있다. 이 중 완충재는 심층 처분시스템에 있어 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 완충재는 지하수 유입으로부터 처분용기를 보호하고, 방사성 핵종 유출을 저지한다. 처분용기에서 발생하는 고온의 열량이 완충재로 전파되기에 완충재의 열적 성능은 처분시스템의 안정성 평가에 매우 중요하다고 할 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국내 경주산 압축 벤토나이트 완충재에 대한 열전도도 추정 모델을 개발하고자 하였다. 압축 벤토나이트 완충재의 열전도도는 비정상 열선법을 이용하여 다양한 함수비와 건조밀도에 따라 측정하였으며, 총 39개의 실험 데이터를 토대로 회귀분석을 이용하여 경주 압축 벤토나이트의 열전도도 추정 모델을 제시하였다.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.283-293
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• 2015

고준위폐기물처분장에서 완충재는 공학적방벽의 주요 구성요소 중 하나이다. 본 연구에서는 국 내외의 완충재 요구사항과 성능기준을 분석하고, 우리나라 고준위폐기물처분장에 적합한 완충재 개념 도출을 위한 접근방안을 제시하였다. 완충재의 주요 성능기준 인자항목으로, 수리전도도, 핵종 저지능, 팽윤압, 열전도도, 역학적 특성치(mechanical properties), 유기물함량(organic carbon content), 일라이트화 속도(illitization rate) 등을 고려하였다. 우리나라 고준위폐기물처분장 완충재 물질로서 국산 벤토나이트(Ca-벤토나이트)와 대안재로 MX-80 벤토나이트(Na-벤토나이트)를 제안하였다. 완충재의 기술사양은 Ca-벤토나이트 경우엔 우리나라의 성능기준을, Na-벤토나이트의 경우는 스웨덴의 성능기준을 보수적으로 만족하는 값으로 설정하였다. 완충재의 두께는 전단거동, 핵종 유출, 열전도의 측면에서 평가하여 결정하였으며, 평가결과 완충재의 두께는 0.25 ~ 0.5 m 사이가 적절하였다. 그러나 최종적인 완충재의 두께는 향후 보다 심도 있는 열-수리-역학적 평가와 경제적, 공학적 측면을 고려하여 결정하여야 할 것이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.1385-1397
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• 2024

Bentonite is a recommended material for the multiple barriers in the final disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) to prevent groundwater intrusion and nuclear species migration. However, after drying-wetting cycling during the repository construction stage and ion exchange with the concrete barrier in the long-term repository, the bentonite mechanical behaviors, including swelling capacity and hydraulic conductivity, would be further influenced by the groundwater intrusion, resulting in radioactive leakage. To comprehensively examine the factors on the mechanical characteristics of bentonite, this study presented scenarios involving MX-80 and KV-1 bentonites subjected to drying-wetting cycling and accelerated ion migration. The experiments subsequently measured free swelling, swelling pressure, and hydraulic conductivity of bentonites with intrusions of seawater, high pH, and low pH solutions. The results indicated that the solutions caused a reduction in swelling volume and pressure, and an increase in hydraulic conductivity. Specifically, the swelling capability of bentonite with drying-wetting cycling in the seawater decreased significantly by 60%, while hydraulic conductivity increased by more than three times. Therefore, the study suggested minimizing drying-wetting cycling and preventing seawater intrusion, ensuring a long service life of the multiple barriers in the LLW repository.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권11호
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• pp.4005-4012
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• 2022

As high-level radioactive waste (HLW) generated from nuclear power plants is harmful to the human body, it must be safely disposed of by an engineered barrier system consisting of disposal canisters and buffer and backfill materials. A gap exists between the canister and buffer material in a HLW repository and between the buffer material and natural rock-this gap may reduce the water-blocking ability and heat transfer efficiency of the engineered barrier materials. Herein, the basic characteristics and thermal properties of granular bentonite, a candidate gap-filling material, were investigated, and their effects on the temperature change of the buffer material were analyzed numerically. Heat transfer by air conduction and convection in the gap were considered simultaneously. Moreover, by applying the Korean reference disposal system, changes in the properties of the buffer material were derived, and the basic design of the engineered barrier system was presented according to the gap filling material (GFM). The findings showed that a GFM with high initial thermal conductivity must be filled in the space between the buffer material and rock. Moreover, the target dry density of the buffer material varied according to the initial wet density, specific gravity, and water content values of the GFM.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.9-27
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• 2013

Nagra was established in 1972 by the Swiss nuclear power plant operators and the Federal Government to implement permanent and safe disposal of all types of radioactive waste generated in Switzerland. The Swiss Nuclear Energy Act specifies that these shall be disposed of in deep geological repositories. A number of different geological formations and sites have been investigated to date and an extended database of geological characteristics as well as data and state-of-the-art methodologies required for the evaluation of the long-term safety of repository systems have been developed. The research, development, and demonstration activities are further supported by the two underground research facilities operating in Switzerland, the Grimsel Test Site and the Mont Terri Project, along with very active collaboration of Nagra with national and international partners. A new site selection process was approved by the Federal Government in 2008 and is ongoing. This process is driven by the long-term safety and feasibility of the geological repositories and is based on a step-wise decision-making approach with a strong participatory component from the affected communities and regions. In this paper a brief history and the current status of the Swiss radioactive waste management program are presented and special characteristics that may be useful beyond the Swiss program are highlighted and discussed.

• 한국방사성폐기물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2004년도 학술논문집
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• pp.194-198
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• 2004

The thermo-hydro-mechanical (T-H-M) process is one of major issues in the performance assessment of a high level waste (HLW) repository. An engineering-scale test was planned and its experimental set-up has being installed, to validate the T-H-M behavior in the buffer of a reference disposal system. The experimental set-up consists of 4 major components: the confining cylinder with its hydration water tank, the bentonite block, the heating system, and the sensors and instruments. The monitoring and data acquisition system is employed to control the heater to maintain the temperature of $95^{\circ}C$ at the interface of the heater and bentonite blocks and to collect signals from sensors and instruments installed in the bentonite blocks.

• 방사성폐기물학회지
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• 제18권spc호
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• pp.75-87
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• 2020

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed geological repository systems for the disposal of high-level wastes and spent nuclear fuels (SNFs) in South Korea. The purpose of the most recently developed system, the improved KAERI Reference Disposal System Plus (KRS⁺), is to dispose of all SNFs in Korea with improved disposal area efficiency. In this paper, a system-level safety assessment model for the KRS⁺ is presented with long-term assessment results. A system-level model is used to evaluate the overall performance of the disposal system rather than simulating a single component. Because a repository site in Korea has yet to be selected, a conceptual model is used to describe the proposed disposal system. Some uncertain parameters are incorporated into the model for the future site selection process. These parameters include options for a fractured pathway in a geosphere, parameters for radionuclide migration, and repository design dimensions. Two types of SNF, PULS7 from a pressurized water reactor and Canada Deuterium Uranium from a heavy water reactor, were selected as a reference inventory considering the future cumulative stock of SNFs in Korea. The highest peak radiological dose to a representative public was estimated to be 8.19×10^-4 mSv·yr^-1, primarily from ¹²⁹I. The proposed KRS⁺ design is expected to have a high safety margin that is on the order of two times lower than the dose limit criterion of 0.1 mSv·yr^-1.

• 한국방사성폐기물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방사성폐기물학회 2003년도 가을 학술논문집
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• pp.229-232
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• 2003

고준위 방사성폐기물 처분장에서 적용하고 있는 다중 방벽의 한 부분인 처분 용기는 벤토나이트 완충재의 팽윤과 지압으로부터 폐기물을 역학적으로 안전하게 보호함과 동시에 일정 기간 방사성폐기물의 유출을 억제하는 역할을 한다. 용기는 엄격한 재질 선정과 품질 보증을 거쳐 건전성을 확보하나 보수적인 관점에서 보면 용기 제작 과정이나 수송 중 예상치 못한 사건으로 인해 불량품이 발생할 개연성이 있다. 본 연구에서는 이와 같은 사고 시나리오를 가정할 경우 불량 용기를 포함한 전체 용기에 거치된 방사성폐기물의 시간에 따른 환경 위해도를 평가하였다. 본 연구결과 일부 처분 용기에 초기 파손이 발생하더라도 규제치를 잘 만족하는 것으로 판명되었다.

• 한국터널지하공간학회 논문집
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.501-518
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• 2019

심부 지하환경 조건에서 측정된 암석물성의 사용은 고준위폐기물처분장의 장기 안전성 평가 측면에서 해석의 신뢰성을 향상시킬 수 있다. 본 연구는 지하처분연구시설(Korea atomic energy research institute Underground Research Tunnel, KURT)의 화강암(한국원자력연구원, 대전)을 대상으로 고준위폐기물 처분장에서 예상되는 복합환경 조건을 구현한 후 암석의 역학적 물성 변화를 측정하였다. 실험은 심지층 처분환경이 모사되도록 열-수리-역학적 복합 환경(Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical, THM)이 조절될 수 있는 실험장치를 제작하였다. 다양한 복합 실험조건(M, HM, TM, THM)을 구현하여 일축압축강도와 간접인장강도, 탄성계수, 포와송비 등의 암석물성을 측정한 후 그 결과를 분석하였다. 실험결과, 처분장 근계암반 예상 온도범위 내에서는 KURT 화강암의 역학적 물성이 온도의 영향 보다 포화유무에 따른 변화가 더 큰 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, 동일한 온도 조건에서 포화 유무에 따른 일축압축시험 결과는 최대 약 20%의 상대적인 차이를 보였으며, 간접인장시험 결과는 최대 13%의 차이가 발생하였다. 따라서 처분장의 장기거동에 따른 성능평가 및 안전성 예측을 위해서는 기존의 상온 실내시험을 통해 도출된 암석물성을 사용하기보다 심부 지하환경을 반영한 암석의 복합물성을 활용하는 것이 해석의 신뢰도 향상에 기여할 수 있을 것이다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.561-574
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• 2006

This study presents the results of an economic analysis for a comparison of the single layer and double layer alternatives with respect to a HLW-repository. According to a cost analysis undertaken in the Korean case, the single layer option was the most economical alternative. The disposal unit cost was estimated to be 222 EUR/kgU. In order to estimate such a disposal cost, an estimation process was sought after the cost objects, cost drivers and economic indicators were taken into consideration. The disposal cost of spent fuel differs greatly from general product costs in the cost structure. Product costs consist of direct material costs and direct labor and manufacturing overhead costs, whereas the disposal cost is comprised of construction costs, operating costs and closure costs. In addition, the closure cost is required after a certain period of time elapses following the building of a repository.