Research on advanced technology of performance assessment and monitoring for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (Joint research)

JAEA and RWMC have carried out a joint research program on advanced technologies that could be used to support performance assessment and monitoring of geological disposal concepts for high-level radioactive waste. The following 5 items regarding to performance assessment and 1 item for monitoring were considered in the program: Technology of performance assessment: consideration of a strategy for development of technologies for performance assessment over various spatial and temporal scales; development of analysis technologies for vitrified waste scale; development of analysis technologies for repository scale; development of integration technologies for geochemical information; and development of technologies to promote the logical understanding of repository performance and safety. Technology of monitoring: consideration of applicability for technology of optical fiber sensor. The above items were discussed in the context of technological experiences gained by JAEA and RWMC in previous repository-related studies. According to the results of these discussions, development strategies for each of the technology areas identified above were efficiently formulated by appropriate task allocations. Specific technical subjects requiring further investigation were identified through this research, and a priority of subject was also discussed. (author)