DPC Disposal Thermal Scoping Analysis

Abstract

This is a progress report on thermal modeling for dual-purpose canister (DPCs) direct disposal that covers several available calculation methods and addresses creep and temperature-dependent properties in a salt repository. Three modeling approaches are demonstrated: A semi-analytical calculation method that uses linear solutions with superposition and imaging, to represent a central waste package in a larger array; A finite difference model of coupled thermal creep, implemented in FLAC2D; and An integrated finite difference thermal-hydrologic modeling approach for repositories in different generic host media, implemented in PFLOTRAN. These approaches are at different levels of maturity, and future work is expected to add refinements and establish the best applications for each.