ESV EURIDICE GIE. European Underground Research Infrastructure for Disposal of nuclear waste in Clay Environment

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2 ESV EURIDICE GIE European Underground Research Infrastructure for Disposal of nuclear waste in Clay Environment 2

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4 Different types of waste Heat! 4

5 Volume of radioactive waste based on 40 years of exploitation Cat. B Cat. C With reprocessing Cat. A = m³ Cat. B = m³ Cat. C = 600 m³ Without reprocessing Cat. A = m³ Cat. B = m³ Cat. A Cat. C = m³ estimation 2008

6 Situation today: interim storage 6

7 Situation today: interim storage 7

8 Long term management What after interim storage? Radiological risks over long time periods: Cat. A - short lived => several 100 years Cat. B & C - long lived / high level => several years Challenge: to find a stable and safe management system that protects men and the environment during these time periods 8

9 Long term management Category A waste : surface disposal in Dessel Category B & C waste: research on geological disposal - internationally recommended solution - potential rock types: crystalline rocks, salt or clay - examples: Finland (granite); Sweden (granite); France (clay); Switzerland (clay); Germany (salt and clay); Belgium (clay) 9

10 Boom clay Mol 10

11 Ypresian clay Thickness m m m 0-50 m Erosion affected area

12 Belgian research programme SCK CEN started research in 1974 The Boom Clay, present beneath the Mol/Dessel nuclear zone, was considered as a potential host formation 1980: start construction of the underground research laboratory HADES to study the Boom clay at great depth Initial issue was the construction of infrastructures at a depth of 200 meters in plastic clay layers (lack of experience) ONDRAF/NIRAS (founded in 1980) responsible for the management of all radioactive waste, produced on Belgian territory responsible for all related research programmes ESV EURIDICE GIE: Exploitation of HADES 12

13 HADES: Construction history Phase Pioneering R&D Phase Demonstration PRACLAY project Feasability at industrial scale PRACLAY 13

14 Phase 1: : first shaft 14

15 Phase 1: : freezing the clay 15

16 Phase 1: : URL 16

17 Phase 1: : test drift 17

18 Phase 2: : second shaft 18

19 Phase 2: : industrial techniques 19

20 Technical feasability of geological disposal shafts gallleries crossings 20

21 Safety of geological disposal 3 safety functions to protect men & environment through passive safety Contain (Engineered Barriers) Prevent contaminants dispersion 1000 to many 1000 s a Isolate (geology) Ensure stable conditions Reduce likelihood of inadvertent human intrusion up to 1 Ma Retard (Engineerd Barriers + Natural Barrier) Limit contaminants release from waste Limit water flow Retard contaminant migration up to 1 Ma 21

22 Multibarrier concept ENGINEERED barriers - SUPERCONTAINER reference design => containment during thermal phase (~1000 years) 22

23 NATURAL barrier: Multibarrier concept deep clay layer (~ years): - isolation from biosphere and potential disturbance - retardation of radionuclide migration HOW can clay do this?: - almost impermeable for water - plastic behaviour - retardation of radionuclides by clay minerals 23

24 Research Demonstration & Development Corrosion of engineered barriers Migration of radionuclides Impact of excavation on clay properties Impact of heat on clay properties Characterisation of clay SAFETY and FEASABILITY Excavation techniques Design of the supercontainer Thermo-hydro-mechanical behaviour of clay Disturbance of the clay by climate change, earthquakes 24

25 in an international context 25

26 ESV EURIDICE GIE Aims as stated in the articles of association: The management and operation of HADES The development of the PRACLAY project: demonstration of the feasability of deep disposal of radioactive waste The possible development, implementation and valorisation of other research projects and experiments relating to the geological disposal of radioactive waste Communication about its activities 26

27 ESV EURIDICE GIE Aims as stated in the articles of association: The management and operation of HADES The development of the PRACLAY project: demonstration of the feasability of deep disposal of radioactive waste The possible development, implementation and valorisation of other research projects and experiments relating to the geological disposal of radioactive waste Communication about its activities 27

28 Large scale experiments: PRACLAY PRACLAY experiment: Study the effect of heat (80 C) on the Boom Clay on a representative scale in time (10 years) and space (35 m). 28

29 Large scale experiments: PRACLAY Instrumentation programme temperature total pressure pore water pressure strain stresses in the clay 29

30 ESV EURIDICE GIE Aims as stated in the articles of association: The management and operation of HADES The development of the PRACLAY project: demonstration of the feasability of deep disposal of radioactive waste The possible development, implementation and valorisation of other research projects and experiments relating to the geological disposal of radioactive waste Communication about its activities 30

31 Communication Communication about its activities to General public Scientific community Policy makers / decision takers Media Local stakeholders All other interested parties 2000 visitors a year Important in the frame of public involvement in the stepwise approach to repository developmen 31 t

32 Questions? 32