• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.533-540
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• 2022

Because of the massive development of nuclear power plants in China in recent years, China is facing the challenge of radioactive waste disposal. China has established complete regulatory requirements for radioactive waste disposal, but it also has encountered problems and challenges in low-level radioactive waste disposal in terms of management, selection of disposal facility sites, and implementation of a site selection plan. Three low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities that have been operated in China are described, and their activity limits, locations, and capacities are also outlined. The connotations of "regional" and "centralized" disposal policies are discussed in light of the characteristics of the radioactive waste. The characteristics and advantages of the regional and centralized disposal policies are compared. It is concluded that the regional disposal policy adopted in 1992 can no longer meet the current disposal needs, and China should adopt a combination of the two disposal policies to solve the problem of radioactive waste disposal.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.329-345
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• 2023

This paper described a method for analyzing the structural performance of a metal container used for disposing radioactive waste generated during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant, and numerical analysis results of a method for reinforcing the container. The containers to be analyzed were those that can be used in near-surface and landfill disposal facilities scheduled to be operated at the Gyeongju radioactive waste disposal facility. Structural reinforcement of the container was performed by lattice reinforcement, column reinforcement, and bottom plate reinforcement. Accordingly, a total of 14 reinforcement cases were modeled. The external force causing damage to the container was set equivalent to the impact of a 9-m fall, accounting for the height of the vault at the near-surface disposal facility. The reinforcement methods with a high contribution to the structural performance of the container were concluded to be lattice and column reinforcements.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.511-521
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• 2022

Decommissioning of nuclear power plants generates a large amount of radioactive waste in a short period. Moreover, Radioactive waste has various forms including a large volumes of metal, concrete, and solid waste. The disposal of decommissioning waste using 200 L drums is inefficient in terms of economics, work efficiency, and radiation safety. Therefore, The Korea Radioactive Waste Agency is developing large containers for the packaging, transportation, and disposal of decommissioning waste. Assessing disposability considering the characteristics of the radioactive waste and facility, convenience of operation, and safety of workers is necessary. In this study, the exposure dose rate of workers during the disposal of new containers was evaluated using Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code. Six normal and four abnormal scenarios were derived for the assessment of the dose rate in a near surface disposal facility operation. The results showed that the calculated dose rates in all normal scenarios were lower than the direct exposure dose limitation of workers in the safety analysis report. In abnormal scenarios, the work hours with dose rates below 20 mSv·y^-1 were calculated. The results of this study will be useful in establishing the optimal radiation work conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.477-492
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• 2009

In this paper, we discuss the experiences during the preparation of the Wolsong Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Center. These experiences have importance as a first implementation for the national LILW disposal facility in the Republic of Korea. As for the progress, it relates to the area of selected disposal site, the disposal site characteristics, waste characteristics of the disposal facility, safety assessment, and licensing process. During these experiences, we also discuss the necessity for new organization and change for a radioactive waste management system. Further effort for the safe management of radioactive waste needs to be pursued.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.503-515
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• 2021

In this study, rainfall infiltration in vault of the second near-surface disposal facility was evaluated on the basis of various disposal scenarios. A total of four different disposal scenarios were examined based on the locations of the radioactive waste containers. A numerical model was developed using the FEFLOW software and finite element method to simulate the behavior of infiltrated water in each disposal scenario. The effects of the disposal scenarios on the infiltrated water were evaluated by estimating the flux of the infiltrated water at the vault interfaces. For 300 years, the flux of infiltrated water flowing into the vault was estimated to be 1 mm/year or less for all scenario. The overall results suggest that when the engineered barriers are intact, the flux of infiltrated water cannot generate a sufficient pressure head to penetrate the vault. In addition, it is confirmed that the disposal scenarios have insignificant effects on the infiltrated water flowing into the vault.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2018

In this paper, we reviewed briefly about the barrier materials for the radioactive waste disposal. The primary concept of the radioactive waste disposal is safety. The goal of the radioactive waste management is to assure that the environment is not adversely affected and also public. There are a wide variety of materials are available for the radioactive waste disposal or storage. Among those coal fly ash is one of the significant materials are used as a barrier material. Here we reported, the Calcium sulfo aluminate (CSA) from coal fly ash is effectively suitable for the radioactive waste disposal. This is one of the ways of utilization of waste and manufactured the valuable materials for future indeeds.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.259-260
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.749-750
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• 2004

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.65-82
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• 2017

The result of a preliminary safety assessment that was completed by applying the radionuclide inventory calculated on the basis of available data from radioactive waste generation agencies suggested that many difficulties are to be expected with regard to disposal safety and operation. Based on the results of the preliminary safety assessment of the entire disposal system, in this paper, a unit package exceeding the safety goal is selected that occupies a large proportion of radionuclides in intermediate-level radioactive waste. We introduce restrictions on the amount of radioactivity in a way that excludes the high surface dose rate of the package. The radioactivity limit for disposal will be used as the baseline data for establishing the acceptance criteria and the disposal criteria for each disposal facility to meet the safety standards. It is necessary to draw up a comprehensive safety development plan for the Gyeongju waste disposal facility that will contribute to the construction of a Safety Case for the safety optimization of radioactive waste disposal facilities.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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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.