• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.491-505
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• 2018

As an alternative to deep geological disposal technology, which is considered as a reference concept, the domestic applicability of deep borehole disposal technology for high level radioactive waste, including spent fuel, has been preliminarily evaluated. Usually, the environment of deep borehole disposal, at a depth of 3 to 5 km, has more stable geological and geo-hydrological conditions. For this purpose, the characteristics of rock distribution in the domestic area were analyzed and drilling and investigation technologies for deep boreholes with large diameter were evaluated. Based on the results of these analyses, design criteria and requirements for the deep borehole disposal system were reviewed, and preliminary reference concept for a deep borehole disposal system, including disposal container and sealing system meeting the criteria and requirements, was developed. Subsequently, various performance assessments, including thermal stability analysis of the system and simulation of the disposal process, were performed in a 3D graphic disposal environment. With these analysis results, the preliminary evaluation of the domestic applicability of the deep borehole disposal system was performed from various points of view. In summary, due to disposal depth and simplicity, the deep borehole disposal system should bring many safety and economic benefits. However, to reduce uncertainty and to obtain the assent of the regulatory authority, an in-situ demonstration of this technology should be carried out. The current results can be used as input to establish a national high-level radioactive waste management policy. In addition, they may be provided as basic information necessary for stakeholders interested in deep borehole disposal technology.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-133
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• 2014

If the spent fuels or the high-level radioactive wastes can be disposed of in the depth of 3~5 km and more stable rock formation, it has several advantages. For example, (1)significant fluid flow through basement rock is prevented, in part, by low permeability, poorly connected transport pathways, and (2)overburden self-sealing. (3)Deep fluids also resist vertical movement because they are density stratified and reducing conditions will sharply limit solubility of most dose-critical radionuclides at the depth. Finally, (4) high ionic strengths of deep fluids will prevent colloidal transport. Therefore, as an alternative disposal concept to the deep geological disposal concept(DGD), very deep borehole disposal(DBD) technology is under consideration in number of countries in terms of its outstanding safety and cost effectiveness. In this paper, for the preliminary applicability analyses of the DBD system for the spent fuels or high level wastes, the DBD concepts which have been developed by some countries according to the rapid advance in the development of drilling technology were reviewed. To do this, the general concept of DBD system was checked and the study cases of foreign countries were described and analyzed. These results will be used as an input for the analyses of applicability for DBD in Korea.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2013

As an alternative of the spent fuel disposal in a geologic repository, a deep borehole disposal concept for disposal at the section of 3 - 5km deep in a borehole has been proposed in several countries. In this paper, the latest reports of Sandia National Laboratories on the borehole disposal researches are analyzed. For implementation of this disposal concept in Korea, a conceptual design of spent fuel disposal canister and a modified deep borehole concept are suggested along with a required disposal area.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2019

With Kori nuclear power plant unit 1 as a beginning in April 1978, 24 nuclear power plants have been operated in Korea and two more plants are under construction. As the nuclear power plants being operated, radioactive wastes from the plants have been accumulated so that various methods for disposing them have been proposed. In Korea, researches have been conducted, being focused on DGD (Deep Geological Disposal), however, DBD (Deep Borehole Disposal) method needs considering as an alternative. In this technical note, element technologies for DBD were analyzed by compiling previous researches and their applicability on domestic cases were investigated. Conceptual studies regarding relevant designs were conducted and finally, technical challenges for actual disposal were described.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.355-362
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• 2019

This technical note introduces a newly-proposed concept of deep horizontal drillhole disposal of spent nuclear fuel, and considers how it can be applied in the Korean environment. This disposal concept, in which high-level radioactive waste is disposed in deep horizontal drillholes installed with directional drilling technique, is expected to have great advantages over the existing deep mined repository concept in economics and safety. Since this concept is still at the idea level, however, it is necessary for worldwide expert groups to demonstrate its safety and performance. In addition, the development of guidelines by the regulatory body should be supported. The Korean circumstances, which include a narrow territory and a high population density, as well as the amount of spent nuclear fuel, make the NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) phenomenon very strong and the siting conditions difficult. Under these conditions, if the disposal section of deep horizontal drillhole concept can be located at the continental shelf, with a stable environment, rather than in a coastal land area, it is expected to alleviate the psychological anxiety of the local community and stakeholders. Moreover, even when constructing a centralized deep mined repository in the future, it is necessary to consider locating the repository in the continental shelf.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2012

As an alternative of the high-level radioactive waste disposal in the subsurface repository, a deep borehole disposal is reviewed by several nuclear advanced countries. In this study, the state of the art on the borehole disposal researches was reviewed, and the possibility of borehole disposal in Korean peninsula was discussed. In the deep borehole disposal concept radioactive waste is disposed at the section of 3 - 5km depth in a deep borehole, and it has known that it has advantages in performance and cost due to the layered structure of deep groundwater and small surface disposal facility. The results show that it is necessary to acquisite data on deep geologic conditions of Korean peninsula, and to research the engineering barrier system, numerical modeling tools and disposal techniques for deep borehole disposal.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2016

Spent fuels from nuclear power plants, as well as high-level radioactive waste from the recycling of spent fuels, should be safely isolated from human environment for an extremely long time. Recently, meaningful studies on the development of deep borehole radioactive waste disposal system in 3-5 km depth have been carried out in USA and some countries in Europe, due to great advance in deep borehole drilling technology. In this paper, domestic deep geoenvironmental characteristics are preliminarily investigated to analyze the applicability of deep borehole disposal technology in Korea. To do this, state-of-the art technologies in USA and some countries in Europe are reviewed, and geological and geothermal data from the deep boreholes for geothermal usage are analyzed. Based on the results on the crystalline rock depth, the geothermal gradient and the spent fuel types generated in Korea, a preliminary deep borehole concept including disposal canister and sealing system, is suggested.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-242
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• 2018

To overcome the low mechanical strength and corrosion behavior of a carbon steel canister at high temperature condition of a deep borehole, SiC ceramics were studied as an alternative material for the disposal canister. In this paper, a design concept for a SiC canister, along with an outer stainless steel container, was proposed, and its manufacturing feasibility was tested by fabricating several 1/3 scale canisters. The proposed canister can contain one PWR assembly. The outer container was also prepared for the string formation of SiC canisters. Thermal conductivity was measured for the SiC canister. The canister had a good thermal conductivity of above $70W{\cdot}m^{-1}{\cdot}K^{-1}$ at $100^{\circ}C$. The structural stability was checked under KURT environment, and it was found that the SiC ceramics did not exhibit any change for the 3 year corrosion test at $70^{\circ}C$. Therefore, it was concluded that SiC ceramics could be a good alternative to carbon steel in application to deep borehole disposal canisters.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.335-338
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• 2002

방사성폐기물처분연구의 일환으로 화강암지역내 심부지하수에 대한 지화학특성조사가 수행되었다. 지하수 시료는 다중패커시스템이 설치된 심부시추공으로부터 심도별로 채취되었으며, 계속적인 지화학 및 동위원소에 대한 모니터링이 진행되고 있다. 심부지하수는 pH가 약10.0이며 Na-HCO$_3$형으로 지화학적으로 특징되며, 지표로 250m이하의 심도에서는 거의 동일한 지화학적 특성을 보인다. 동위원소결과는 심부지하수는 천수기원임을 보이며, 천부지하수에 비해 약500~1,000m 높은 고도에서 함양되었음을 보여준다. 250m이하의 심부지하수는 50년이상의 체류시간을 갖음을 나타낸다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2004.09a
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• pp.354-357
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• 2004

방사성폐기물 처분 연구의 일환으로 대전 유성북부 화강암 지역내 200～500m 심도를 갖는 9개의 심부 시추공이 착정되었으며, 이중 3개 시추공에 대하여 다중패커시스템이 설치되어 장기적으로 심도별지하수의 수리특성, 화학특성 및 동위원소 특성이 모니터링 되고 있다. 다중패커시스템이 설치되기 전의시추공 지하수의 수리 및 지화학 특성은 심도에 따라 별다른 특성이 보이지 않지만, 다중패커시스템 설치 후, 심도에 따라 특징적인 수리 및 지화학특성을 보여주고 있다. 또한, 다중패커시스템이 설치된 시추공의 경우, 최상부 구간을 제외하고 모든 구간 지하수의 수리화학특성은 일정기간이 경과한 후에는 각 구간별로 거의 일정한 값으로 유지되고 있음을 보여준다. 그러나, 지하수의 함양특성이 크게 변하는 우기 동안에는 지하수 수두압이 심도 약350m의 구간까지 변화되는 특성을 보여주고 있다. 동위원소특성 역시 심도구간에 따라 특징적인 값을 보여주며, 장기적으로 일정한 구간별 특정 값을 보여주고 있다.