• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.405-418
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• 2019

Based on spent fuels characteristics from domestic nuclear power plants and a disposal scenario from the current basic plan for high-level radioactive waste management, an improved disposal system has been proposed that enhances disposal efficiency and economic effectiveness compared to the existing disposal system. For this purpose, two disposal canisters concepts were derived from the length of the spent fuel generated from the nuclear power plants. In the disposal scenario, the acceptable amount of decay heat for each disposal container was determined, taking into account the discharge and disposal times of spent fuels in accordance with the current basic plan. Based on the determined decay heat of the two types of disposal canisters and the associated disposal system, thermal stability analyses were performed to confirm their suitability to the proposed disposal system design requirement and disposal efficiency assessment. The results of this study confirm 20% reduction in the disposal area and 20% increase in disposal density for the proposed disposal system compared to the existing system. These results can be used to establish a spent fuel management policy and to design a viable commercial disposal system.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2017

A deep geological disposal at a depth of 500 m in stable host rock is considered to be the safest method with current technologies for disposal of spent fuels classified as high-level radioactive waste. The most important requirement is that the temperature of the bentonite buffer, which is a component of the engineered barrier, should not exceed $100^{\circ}C$. In Korea, the amount of spent fuel generated by nuclear power generation, which accounts for about 30% of the total electricity, is continuously increasing and accumulating. Accordingly, the area required to dispose of it is also increasing. In this study, various duplex disposal concepts were derived for the purpose of improving the disposal efficiency by reducing the disposal area. Based on these concepts, thermal analyses were carried out to confirm whether the critical disposal system requirements were met, and the thermal stability of the disposal system was evaluated by analyzing the results. The results showed that upward 75 m or downward 75 m apart from the reference disposal system location of 500 m depth would qualify for the double layered disposal concept. The results of this study can be applied to the establishment of spent fuel management policy and the design of practical commercial disposal system. Detailed analyses with data of a real disposal site are necessary.