Introduction

Tilmann Rothfuchs, GRS

30th November, 2010

Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit

GRS is the central research and expert organisation for nuclear safety in Germany

GRS

• is a non-profit company • is independent of politics and industry

• cooperates intensively on national and international level

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Company Sites and Technical Offices

4

Organization Chart, Braunschweig Site

Final Repository Safety Research

Division

Geo-scientific Laboratory

Safety Analyses Department

Process Analyses Department

5

Bottom-up Approach in Repository Safety Research

Development and Application

of Methods and Tools for the

Integrated Long-term Safety Analyses

Process Analyses Underground Lab Laboratory

Proof of the Long-term Safety

of Waste Repositories

in Deep Geological Formations

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Geo-scientific Laboratory

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In situ-research on the long-term effective sealing

of repositories

01.01.1990 01.01.1992 01.01.1994 01.01.1996 01.01.1998 01.01.2000

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

Exp. Calc. Sec.

A-A Heater surface

B-B Pillar wall

B-B Roof

A-A 1.2 m below drift

A-A 5.0 m below drift

Tem

pera

ture

[

°C

]

Time

01.01.1990 01.01.1992 01.01.1994 01.01.1996 01.01.1998 01.01.2000

0,0

0,1

0,2

0,3

0,4

0,5

0,6

0,7

Experiment

Phase II: 3D

DBE

Co

nv

erg

en

ce

[

m ]

Time

Temperature Evolution Evolution of Backfill Compaction

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1963: Recommendation of salt as host rock by the German

Geological Survey (today BGR)

1964: Foundation of „Institute for Deep Disposal (IfT)“ as part of

national GSF-Research Centre – Mandate: R&D for

geological disposal of radioactive waste

1972: First underground disposal mine goes into operation

1987: Extending IfT‘s mandate to hazardous wastes

– 1st pilot project

1990: Start of specific R&D projects at GSF (altogether app. 45)

1995: GSF-IfT becomes division of GRS

2009: Start of international propagation of underground disposal

concept

2010: 1st international workshop on that topic in Braunschweig

Some Historic Dates & Facts

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Shaft sealing

Drift sealing Borehole sealing

Backfill Waste & Canister

Overburden

Ho

st r

ock

Waste Isolation Multibarrier System

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Geological Concept of Containment of Pollutants

Important rock-properties for permanent containment

Additional measures for isolation and retention

Mechanical stability

Low permeability

Low ground-water-flow

Favorable geochemistry

Adopted design

Inclusion by backfill

Stabile sealings

Geochemical barriers

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Which pollutants are contained in the waste to be disposed,

and in what quantity?

Which processes and which pathways in case of any release

are important for the long-term safety?

What concentration of any pollutant might finally reach the

biosphere?

What consequences are to be expected for man and

environment?

Questions of Principle – Final Repository Safety Research

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Elements of a Long-term Safety Analysis

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EMOS – Package of Programs for

Integrated Long-term Safety Analyses

Near-field Far-field Biosphere

1D, Clay formations

1D, porous media

1D, fractured- porous media

1D/2D, Colloids in porous media

3D, with retention effects

3D, Salt

1D, Salt-caverns + Hazardous waste

KACTOS

LOPOS

TRAPIC

CHETMAD

CHETLIN CHETNIS

EXMAS

CLAYPOS

EXCON

d3f, r3t

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Need for the isolation of contaminants from the

biosphere for geological periods

No threat by changes in society

No threat by changes in surface utilization

No threat by climatic changes

Free of aftercare

No burden for future generations

Reasons for Underground Disposal in

Deep Geological Formations

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Germany has taken over a pioneering role in Europe and world-wide

Decades of experience (Herfa-Neurode in operation since 1972)

Long-standing research experience

(> 150 BMBF - projects since 1991)

Concept: safe containment and isolation from biosphere („dry

safekeeping“)

Exclusive use of former exploitation mines is an integral part of

waste management in Germany and Europe

Underground Disposal – Current Situation

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Source: Federal Statistical Office, for 2003

Hazardous Waste Management in Germany – 1,000 t

Underground

Disposal [210]

Landfill

Disposal [4,470]

Incineration

[1,660]

Chem./phys.

Treatment [2,710]

Other

Treatment [4,260]

Recycling [4,610]

Interim

Storage [1,360]

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Underground Disposal Sites in Germany

Green = Sites related to underground disposal 18

Waste

Ecosphere

Far-field

Near-field

Groundwater

Flow

Contaminant

Transport

Cavern

Near-field model

Hydraulic

Properties

Shaft-

Seals

Excavation-

Damaged Zones

Interaction

Deep GW

Investigation

Methods Waste-Types

Gas-Diffusion

Sorption

Data-Base

Ecotoxicology

Gas-Release

Stability

Clay-Seals

Si/Al-

Modeling

Geochemical

Zn,Cd,Pb-Model

Bahavior HM-

Wastes

Mobility

Data-Base

Anaerob-

Barrier-Efficiency

Self-healing

Backfill Interactions

Geochemistry Geotechnics Long-term safety analysis

Subjects of Research Projects (Examples)

Overburden

Backfill

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Base for new or improved concepts and site selection

Enhancement of safety of existing facilities

Fast and target-oriented reaction in case of any failure

Public acceptance

Contribution to global protection of the environment

Benefits from Final Repository Safety Research

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Concepts and criteria (GRS)

Practical experience (K+S Entsorgung)

Waste conditioning (K-UTEC)

Geochemical aspects – waste & rock (GRS)

Backfill and sealing materials (GRS)

Drift- & shaft-sealing (Freiberg University)

Panel discussion

Topics for Following Presentations

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Development of environmental sound disposal concepts

Must consider adjustments to national constraints

Contribution to global environmental protection

Chance for German industry and research institutions

Chemical waste on top of the Yangtze River bank. Photo by Lu Guang

Development of Underground Disposal Concepts

in Developing Countries

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