Thermomechanical assessment of in situ heater tests in DOE salt at Avery Island, Louisiana

Three in situ heater tests are being performed in dome salt at the Avery Island mine. These tests are simulations of the emplacement of singular canisters of heat generating nuclear waste. Combinations of three power levels and the two emplacement concepts were included in the three heater tests. Each test includes a central heater, a protective sleeve, and various sensors to measure rock response. Representative temperatures and displacements measured in the heater tests are presented. For one of the heater tests the measured response is compared with finite element analysis predicted response. A 20% increase in the laboratory measured thermal conductivity is required in the analysis to obtain agreement between the calculated and measured temperatures. The displacements predicted in the analysis are not in total agreement with the measured displacements, and possible reasons for this are discussed