Test Plan: WIPP bin-scale CH TRU waste tests

Abstract

SAND90-1974 Unlimited Release DE91 0 010 4 9 Distribution Category UC-721-5-from these tests and associated technical expertise are required by the WIPP Performanc_ Assessment (PA) program studies, and for the scientific benefit of the overall WIPP project. This Test Plan describes the necessary scientific and technical aspects, justifications, and rationale for successfully initiating and conducting the WIPP Bin-Scale CH TRU Waste Test program. This Test Plan is the controlling scientific design definition and overall requir_nent._ doct_nent for this WIPP in situ test _,as defined by Sandia National laboratories (SNL), scientific achrisorto the U.S. Depaztment of Energy, WIPP Project office (DOE/WPO). Many site er_ineering, operational, and safety requirements are also defined, as needed te support the conduct of this overall test program. There will be other parallel and supporting engineering design requirements and specifications, engineering work packages, standard operating procedures, safety procedures, waste handling and retrieval plans, and other necessary documentation, etc. Such services and documentation (not in this Test Plan) will be provided by the Westinghouse Waste Isolation Division (WID), thewipp _lagement and operating contractor. All of these documents and plans provide necessary support to the successful conduct of the scientific program as defined in this Test Plan. All such supporting commitments are summarized in Section 13.3. renepr_ will be conducted as a joint cooperative and interactive effort betwee_ SNL and WID. The overall test program will be directed by s_ia National I_boratori_g. The Test Plan clearly lays out the respective areas of test responsibility for both SNL 2uw/WID. The entire test program is being performed under,_theauspi_g of, and for the DOE/WPO. Considerable engJl_m_ring detail and scientific background information is included herein to provide an adequate, overall description of the complete test program. An interested reader will not, therefore, have to search in multiple documents for necessary, supplemental information. This Test Plan is not, however, intended to be a treatise on the topics of _rastedegradation and the overall impacts of resultant gas generation on the lor_j-termperformance and safety of the WIPP facility. Interpretations of test data not yet obtained will not be atte2pted in this document. The data from this bin-scale test program, a]xlthe subsequent interpretations thereof, are input information to the WIPP PA studies. Evaluations of te_stresults and their potentiai '

An assessment of radiolytic gas generation: Impacts from Rocky Flats Plant residue elimination alternatives. Final report

“…Existing gas generation rates from laboratory analysis for anaerobic corrosion, microbial activity, radiolysis, and other interactions are presented in Molecke (1990) and summarized in Table 4. The established gas generation rates will be used to assess the effects of overall gas generation based on simulated conditions.…”

An assessment of the flammability and explosion potential of transuranic waste

“…The proposed bin experiments (Molecke, 1990a) are designed to determine gas generation rates for various waste forms. Scheduled analyses of the headspace gas include measurements of hydrogen, methane, and oxygen and potentially flammable compounds, including acetone, in addition to other non-flammable organic compounds.…”

“…In the bin-scale and alcove-scale test plans, Molecke (1990aMolecke ( & 1990b describes precautions that will be taken to minimize the possibility of an explosion during the test phase. While the presence of volatile organic compounds will be monitored throughout the test phase, the precautions are primarily intended to address more immediate concerns regarding the generation of hydrogen and methane.…”

Strategy for experimental validation of waste package performance assessment

“…There have been several in-situ experiments including those conducted at Stripa, Sweden [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64]; the WIPP site [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72]; Chalk River [73]; Mol, Belgium [74][75][76]; Ballidon, United Kingdom [77][78]; the Nevada Test Site [79]; Oak Ridge; and ASSE [80]. However, most of these in-situ experiments have focused mainly on the performance of the waste package, and thus provide only a partial assessment of repository performance.…”

“…The major tests include those at Stripa [54-641 and the Nevada Test Site [79] in granite, WIPP [65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72] and ASSE in salt [80], MOL in clay [74][75][76], Chalk River in sand [73], and Oak Ridge in shale.…”