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A Model for Predicting the Temperature Distribution Around Radioactive Waste Containers in Very Deep Geological Boreholes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Karl P. Travis ,
Neil A. McTaggart ,
Fergus G. F. Gibb  and
David Burley
Karl P. Travis
Affiliation:
Immobilisation Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, U. K.
Neil A. McTaggart
Affiliation:
Immobilisation Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, U. K.
Fergus G. F. Gibb
Affiliation:
Immobilisation Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, U. K.
David Burley
Affiliation:
Immobilisation Science Laboratory, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, Mappin Street, Sheffield S1 3JD, U. K.
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Abstract

We present a mathematical model for determining the temperature field around radioactive waste containers in very deep geological boreholes. The model is first used to predict the temperature rise for some simple, but well-established cases with known solutions in order to verify the numerical work. The temperature distribution is then determined for two variants of the deep bore hole concept; a low temperature variant and a high temperature variant. The results from these studies are discussed in terms of their utility in establishing deep borehole disposal as a workable concept.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1107: Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XXXI , 2008 , 83
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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