Alteration of Spent Fuel Matrix under Unsaturated Water Conditions
Abstract
Drip tests which simulate the unsaturated conditions expected in the potential repository at Yucca Mountain are in progress to evaluate the long-term performance of spent fuel. This paper examines the corrosion behavior of the spent fuel matrix under conditions in which water is introduced at a rate of 1.5 mL every 7 days. Our recent results suggest a rapid reaction rate of the spent fuel matrix, the formation of alteration products that are similar to the sequence found in ore deposits in uranium mines, and the presence of colloidal species in the leachate. These results are compared to results from two models developed for a potential repository in an unsaturated zone
Recommended Citation
P. A. Finn et al., "Alteration of Spent Fuel Matrix under Unsaturated Water Conditions," Proceedings of the 6th Annual International Conference on High Level Radioactive Waste Management (1995, Las Vegas, NV), pp. 606 - 608, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Apr 1995.
Meeting Name
6th Annual International Conference on High Level Radioactive Waste Management (1995: Apr. 30-May 5, Las Vegas, NV)
Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
Colloids; Corrosion; Geological Repositories; Materials Testing; Saturation (Materials Composition); Uranium Dioxide; Spent Fuel Matrix; Unsaturated Water Conditions; Yucca Mountain Repository; Spent Fuels
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 1995 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Apr 1995