The thermal regime of underground storage facility for heat-generating radiation hazardous materials

As a model case study the authors have chosen the theoretical development carried out by experts of the Mining Institute KSC RAS concerning design-layout of the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) underground storage facility. The object is to be modelled in the rock mass at a depth of 100 m using artificial (reinforced concrete canisters, built-in reinforced concrete constructions) and natural (rock) protection barriers. The fuel storage time is 50 years. And it is necessary to provide both reliability and lifetime of the storage facility and SNF decay-heat removal. Heat removal should be arranged in order to exclude possible overheating (source surface 358 K, granite 373) as well as to guarantee none of high temperature gradients in the protection constructions. The work is aimed at: (1) showing possibilities of thermal regime modelling for extremely important facility using COMSOL software; (2) determining degree of model thermophysical parameters impact and values of air consumption on the SNF longterm storage facility thermal regime. (orig.)