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Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "B4: Nuclear Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2022) | Viewed by 15988

Special Issue Editor

Centre for Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry, Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, 16 Dorodna, 03-161 Warszawa, Poland
Interests: synthesis; organic synthesis; uranium; leaching; extraction; leaching processes; separation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nuclear technology has multiple applications that are fundamental to our daily life. It is impossible to list all the uses of ionizing radiation. It is used in medical diagnostics and therapy, sterilization of medical equipment, generating low-carbon electricity, improving agriculture and food production, and hydrology. The sustainable application of nuclear technologies is fully linked with the responsible management of produced waste. Nuclear waste releases radiation and it must be managed suitably, safely, and effectively. The management and disposal of radioactive waste are some of the most problematic aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle today. Advanced fuel recycling technologies are focused on efficiently removing and transmuting the most radiotoxic long-lived portions of used nuclear fuel (UNF). Substantial progress is needed globally in the management of radioactive waste. Efficient solutions for radioactive waste management operations are already available or are in advanced phases of development. More progress could be expected in the near- and medium-term. However, issues of nuclear waste management are not only technical, but also social. This Special Issue will not only focus on methods and conceptions of storage and disposal of nuclear waste, but also improving the visibility of development, good practice, and potent solutions.

Dr. Katarzyna Kiegiel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Radioactive waste
  • Management
  • Storage
  • Disposal of nuclear waste
  • Nuclear reprocessing

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 155 KiB  
Editorial
Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste
by Katarzyna Kiegiel
Energies 2022, 15(13), 4665; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15134665 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1312
Abstract
Nuclear technology has multiple applications that are fundamental to our daily life [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)

Research

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15 pages, 2417 KiB  
Article
The Application of Radiochemical Measurements of PWR Spent Fuel for the Validation of Burnup Codes
by Mikołaj Oettingen
Energies 2022, 15(9), 3041; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15093041 - 21 Apr 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1260
Abstract
The paper shows the usage of destructive assay data from PWR fuel samples for the validation of the NFCSS burnup system developed by the IAEA. The results of radiochemical measurements of spent fuel isotopic composition were compared with the results of numerical modelling. [...] Read more.
The paper shows the usage of destructive assay data from PWR fuel samples for the validation of the NFCSS burnup system developed by the IAEA. The results of radiochemical measurements of spent fuel isotopic composition were compared with the results of numerical modelling. In total, 254 samples from 15 PWRs, incorporated in the SFCOMPO database, were applied in the validation study. The paper shows the trends observed in the calculated-to-experimental ratios for eight major actinides and six minor actinides present in spent nuclear fuel. The data were quantified and analysed considering the enrichment, burnup and origin. The obtained results were compared with other studies on burnup validation using different numerical tools. In general, the results of numerical modelling for major actinides show rather good consistency with radiochemical measurements, while the results for minor actinides are less accurate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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24 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Post-Closure Safety Analysis of Nuclear Waste Disposal in Deep Vertical Boreholes
by Stefan Finsterle, Richard A. Muller, John Grimsich, Ethan A. Bates and John Midgley
Energies 2021, 14(19), 6356; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14196356 - 05 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2235
Abstract
Isolation of spent nuclear fuel assemblies in deep vertical boreholes is analyzed. The main safety features of the borehole concept are related to the repository’s great depth, implying (a) long migration distances and correspondingly long travel times, allowing radionuclides to decay, (b) separation [...] Read more.
Isolation of spent nuclear fuel assemblies in deep vertical boreholes is analyzed. The main safety features of the borehole concept are related to the repository’s great depth, implying (a) long migration distances and correspondingly long travel times, allowing radionuclides to decay, (b) separation of the repository from the dynamic hydrological cycle near the land surface, (c) stable geological and hydrogeological conditions, and (d) a geochemically reducing environment. An integrated simulation model of the engineered and natural barrier systems has been developed to examine multiple scenarios of the release of radionuclides from the waste canisters, the transport through a fractured porous host rock, and the extraction of potentially contaminated drinking water from an aquifer. These generic simulations include thermal effects from both the natural geothermal gradient and the heat-generating waste, the influence of topography on regional groundwater flow, moderated by salinity stratification at depth, and the role of borehole sealing. The impact of these processes on the transport of select radionuclides is studied, which include long-lived, soluble, sorbing or highly mobile isotopes along with a decay chain of safety-relevant actinide metals. The generic analyses suggest that a deep vertical borehole repository has the potential to be a safe option for the disposal of certain waste streams, with the depth itself and the stable hydrogeological environment encountered in the emplacement zone providing inherent long-term isolation, which allows for reduced reliance on a complex engineered barrier system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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20 pages, 2054 KiB  
Article
Comparative Evaluation of Direct Disposal and Pyro-SFR Nuclear Fuel Cycle Alternatives Using Multi Criteria Decision Making in Korea
by Sungki Kim, Jin-Seop Kim and Dong-Keun Cho
Energies 2021, 14(12), 3590; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14123590 - 16 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1574
Abstract
The Korean government is currently evaluating two alternatives, direct disposal and pyroprocessing, for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This paper presents the ranking results of comparing and evaluating direct disposal and pyro-SFR fuel cycle alternatives using multi-criteria decision-making methods such as AHP, [...] Read more.
The Korean government is currently evaluating two alternatives, direct disposal and pyroprocessing, for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This paper presents the ranking results of comparing and evaluating direct disposal and pyro-SFR fuel cycle alternatives using multi-criteria decision-making methods such as AHP, TOPSIS, and PROMETHEE. In considering the various evaluation criteria involved in these two alternatives, we aimed to determine the optimal choice in terms of the economic and social conditions of Korea. The evaluation criteria considered were safety, resource availability, environmental impact, economics, nuclear proliferation resistance, and public acceptance. The results show that the pyro-SFR fuel cycle alternative is more advantageous than direct disposal in the AHP and TOPSIS methods, whereas direct disposal is more advantageous in the PROMETHEE method because the ranking is reversed. TOPSIS assigns the ideal value and the most negative value among the input values to each criterion as a parameter reflecting the concept of distance between the best alternative and the worst alternative. In contrast, the PROMETHEE method first selects the preference function including the preference threshold, and calculates the preferred outflow and the preferred inflow for the detailed evaluation indicators. Therefore, differences exist in the methodologies of multi-criteria decision making. Nonetheless, the analysis results of the back-end fuel cycle option can greatly contribute to establishing a nuclear policy for the back-end nuclear fuel cycle, and these efforts will enable sustainable nuclear power generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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19 pages, 1693 KiB  
Article
Benefit and Cost Ratio Analysis of Direct Disposal and Pyro-SFR Fuel Cycle Alternatives Using the Results of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making in Korea
by Sungki Kim, Jin-Seop Kim and Dong-Keun Cho
Energies 2021, 14(12), 3509; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en14123509 - 13 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1723
Abstract
This paper presents the results of various benefit–cost ratio (BCR) analyses of back-end nuclear fuel cycle alternatives. Korea is currently considering two alternatives for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel: direct disposal and pyroprocessing. Each of these two alternatives has advantages and disadvantages. [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of various benefit–cost ratio (BCR) analyses of back-end nuclear fuel cycle alternatives. Korea is currently considering two alternatives for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel: direct disposal and pyroprocessing. Each of these two alternatives has advantages and disadvantages. To select one alternative, various evaluation criteria must be considered, since the superior alternative cannot be intuitively selected. A multi-criteria decision-making model can be a good methodology in this case. The analyses of benefit–cost ratios showed that the pyroprocessing alternative was more advantageous than direct disposal when using the results of the AHP and TOPSIS multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method. However, when using the results of the PROMETHEE method, the rank was reversed, and direct disposal was more advantageous than the Pyro-SFR fuel cycle. The results of BCR and MCDM can greatly contribute to establishing a nuclear policy for the back-end nuclear fuel cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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Review

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18 pages, 2161 KiB  
Review
Management of Radioactive Waste from HTGR Reactors including Spent TRISO Fuel—State of the Art
by Katarzyna Kiegiel, Irena Herdzik-Koniecko, Leon Fuks and Grażyna Zakrzewska-Kołtuniewicz
Energies 2022, 15(3), 1099; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15031099 - 01 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3101
Abstract
In light of the increasing demand for energy sources in the world and the need to meet climate goals set by countries, there is growing global interest in high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs), especially as they are known to be inherently safe [...] Read more.
In light of the increasing demand for energy sources in the world and the need to meet climate goals set by countries, there is growing global interest in high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGRs), especially as they are known to be inherently safe nuclear reactors. The safety of HTGRs results, among other, from the nature of the nuclear fuel used in them in the form of coated TRISO particles (tri-structural-isotropic) and the reduction of the total amount of radioactive waste generated. This paper reviews numerous methods used to ensure the sustainable, feasible management and long-term storage of HTGR nuclear waste for the protection of the environment and society. The types of waste generated in the HTGR cycle are presented as well as the methods of their characterization, which are important for long-time storage and final disposal. Two leading nuclear fuel cycle strategies, the once-through cycle (direct disposal or open cycle) and the twice-through cycle (recycling or partially closed cycle), are discussed also in relation to TRISO spent fuel. A short review of the possibilities of treatment of TRISO spent nuclear fuel from HTGR reactors is made. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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27 pages, 3409 KiB  
Review
Methods of Thermal Treatment of Radioactive Waste
by Leon Fuks, Irena Herdzik-Koniecko, Katarzyna Kiegiel, Agnieszka Miskiewicz and Grazyna Zakrzewska-Koltuniewicz
Energies 2022, 15(1), 375; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15010375 - 05 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3545
Abstract
Throughout the world, and especially in the European Union, numerous technologies for the thermal treatment of radioactive waste are available or being developed. These technologies can be applied to a large range of different radioactive waste streams, including non-standard types of waste that [...] Read more.
Throughout the world, and especially in the European Union, numerous technologies for the thermal treatment of radioactive waste are available or being developed. These technologies can be applied to a large range of different radioactive waste streams, including non-standard types of waste that present specific waste management challenges. Thermal treatment can result in a significant reduction in volume and hazard, which are beneficial for safe storage and disposal. Thermal treatment also removes organic material that can form complexing agents and increase the mobility of radionuclides in the landfill. In the paper, basic thermal techniques are presented, and some examples of the installations are shown. Common knowledge of these methods may result in an increased public acceptance of nuclear energy in a country just introducing it, as Poland is. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Storage and Disposal Options for Nuclear Waste)
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