Scenarios constructed for nominal flow in the presence of a repository at Yucca Mountain and vicinity

Barr, G.E.; Hunter, R.L.; Dunn, E.; Flint, A R

doi:10.2172/41318

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…The assumptions inherent in this approach (e.g., pressure equilibrium between fractures and adjacent matrix) make it most suitable for steady-state, uniform boundary condition flow. To model the highly non-equilibrium situations of importance for evaluating many scenarios for total system performance assessment at Yucca Mountain (see Barr et al, 1995), dual-continua models are presumed to be more applicable. Dual-permeability models (e.g., Kazemi and Gilman, 1993) require definition of separate effective media properties for the fracture network and ensemble of individual matrix blocks within each grid block, as well as a transfer function between the two continua (see figure 2d).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenging and improving conceptual models for isothermal flow in unsaturated, fractured rock through exploration of small-scale processes

Glass¹,

Nicholl²,

Tidwell

1996

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Over the past several years, we have performed experimental studies focused on understanding small-scale flow processes within discrete fkactures and individual matrix blocks; much of the understanding gained in that time differs from that underlying the basic assumptions used in effective media representations. Here we synthesize the process level understanding gained from our laboratory studies to explore how such small-scale processes may influence the behavior of fluid flow in fiacture networks and ensembles of matrix blocks at levels suffkient to impact the formulation of intermediate-scale effective media properties. We also explore, by means of a thought experiment, how these same small-scale processes could couple to produce a large-scale system response inconsistent with current conceptual models based on continuum representations of flow through unsaturated, fractured rock. Based on our findings, a number of modifications to existing dual permeability models are suggested that should allow them improved applicability; however, even with these modifications, it is likely that continuum representations of flow through unsaturated fractured rock will have limited validity and must therefore be applied with caution.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenging and improving conceptual models for isothermal flow in unsaturated, fractured rock through exploration of small-scale processes

Glass¹,

Nicholl²,

Tidwell

1996

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“…1996 SNL completes scenarios for tectonic processes [306]. LANL develops site-scale SZ model using dual-permeability model (DKM) in FEHM [307].…”

Section: Nas Advises Risk For Ymp Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milestones for Selection, Characterization, and Analysis of the Performance of a Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain.

Rechard

2015

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This report presents a concise history in tabular form of events leading up to site identification in 1978, site selection in 1987, subsequent characterization, and ongoing analysis through 2009 of the performance of a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain in southern Nevada. The tabulated events generally occurred in five periods: (1) commitment to mined geologic disposal and identification of sites; (2) site selection and analysis, based on regional geologic characterization through literature and analogous data; (3) feasibility analysis demonstrating calculation procedures and importance of system components, based on rough measures of performance using surface exploration, waste process knowledge, and general laboratory experiments; (4) suitability analysis demonstrating viability of disposal system, based on environment-specific laboratory experiments, in-situ experiments, and underground disposal system characterization; and (5) compliance analysis, based on completed site-specific characterization. The current sixth period beyond 2010 represents a new effort to set waste management policy in the United States. Because the relationship is important to understanding the evolution of the Yucca Mountain Project, the tabulation also shows the interaction between the policy realm and technical realm using four broad categories of events: (a) Regulatory requirements and related federal policy in laws and court decisions, (c) Presidential and agency directives, (c) technical milestones of implementing institutions, and (d) critiques of the Yucca Mountain Project and pertinent national and world events related to nuclear energy and radioactive waste. Preface The historical progression of technical milestones for the Yucca Mountain Project was originally developed for 10 journal articles in a special issue of Reliability Engineering System Safety on the performance assessment for the Yucca Mountain license application [1-10]. The listing of milestones, a distinct feature of those articles, has been collected and tabulated here. Although a brief description is presented here (based on the summaries in the 10 journal articles), the emphasis remains on the tabulation because of its usefulness in providing a comprehensive but concise history of the Yucca Mountain Project. The tabulation presented here is more elaborate than originally presented in that many of the interactions that occurred between the technical realm and policy realm can be depicted in separate columns. The usefulness of the milestones table is due in part to L.A. Connolly, for editorial and reference support, and S.K. Best, Raytheon, and L. Mays, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), for illustration support. Reviewers P.N. Swift, SNL, and K. Gupta, University of Oklahoma, helped improve the discussion. The historical perspective presented is that of the author and is not necessarily held by reviewers, Sandia National Laboratories, and the US Department of Energy. As a historic perspective, the author is re...

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“…1996 SNL completes scenarios for tectonic processes [300]. LANL develops site-scale SZ model using dual-permeability model (DKM) in FEHM [301].…”

Section: Nas Advises Risk For Ymp Regulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milestones for Selection, Characterization, and Analysis of the Performance of a Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain

Rechard

2014

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This report presents a concise history in tabular form of events leading up to site identification in 1978, site selection in 1987, subsequent characterization, and ongoing analysis through 2008 of the performance of a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain in southern Nevada. The tabulated events generally occurred in five periods: (1) commitment to mined geologic disposal and identification of sites; (2) site selection and analysis, based on regional geologic characterization through literature and analogous data; (3) feasibility analysis demonstrating calculation procedures and importance of system components, based on rough measures of performance using surface exploration, waste process knowledge, and general laboratory experiments; (4) suitability analysis demonstrating viability of disposal system, based on environment-specific laboratory experiments, in-situ experiments, and underground disposal system characterization; and (5) compliance analysis, based on completed site-specific characterization. Because the relationship is important to understanding the evolution of the Yucca Mountain Project, the tabulation also shows the interaction between four broad categories of political bodies and government agencies/institutions: (a) technical milestones of the implementing institutions, (b) development of the regulatory requirements and related federal policy in laws and court decisions, (c) Presidential and agency directives and decisions, and (d) critiques of the Yucca Mountain Project and pertinent national and world events related to nuclear energy and radioactive waste. iv Preface The historical progression of technical milestones for the Yucca Mountain Project was originally developed for 10 journal articles in a special issue of Reliability Engineering System Safety on the performance assessment for the Yucca Mountain license application [1-10]. The listing of milestones, a distinct feature of those articles, has been collected and tabulated here. Although a brief description is presented here (based on the summaries in the 10 journal articles), the emphasis remains on the tabulation because of its usefulness in providing a comprehensive but concise history of the Yucca Mountain Project. Yet, the tabulation presented here is more elaborate than originally presented in that many of the interactions that occurred between the technical realm and policy realm can be depicted in separate columns. The usefulness of the milestones table is due in part to L.A. Connolly, for editorial and reference support, and S.K. Best, Raytheon, and L. Mays, Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), for illustration support. Reviewers P.N. Swift, SNL, and K. Gupta, University of Oklahoma, helped improve the discussion. The historical perspective presented is that of the author and is not necessarily held by reviewers, Sandia National Laboratories, and the US Department of Energy. As a historic perspective, the author is reporting on the work of others; however, any interpretative errors...

show abstract

Scenarios constructed for nominal flow in the presence of a repository at Yucca Mountain and vicinity

Cited by 7 publications

References 20 publications

Challenging and improving conceptual models for isothermal flow in unsaturated, fractured rock through exploration of small-scale processes

Challenging and improving conceptual models for isothermal flow in unsaturated, fractured rock through exploration of small-scale processes

Milestones for Selection, Characterization, and Analysis of the Performance of a Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain.

Milestones for Selection, Characterization, and Analysis of the Performance of a Repository for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain

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