Assessing the technical aspects of spent nuclear fuel storage in deep horizontal boreholes

评估深水平钻孔乏核燃料储存的技术问题

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04537
• 负责人: Hawkes, Christopher
• 金额: $ 2.26万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=749525
• 关键词: Assessing; technical; aspects; spent; nuclear

Nuclear power generation is expected to play an important role in the transition to a low-carbon energy future. This will include the continued use of large-scale power generation plants similar to those used for several decades in various locations, including Canada. However, new opportunities for nuclear power generation are emerging with the advent of small modular reactors (SMRs). The provinces of New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta recently signed a memorandum of understanding which lays out plans to implement a number of SMR designs in the next 10 years. The proposed research will support these plans by developing options for storing spent nuclear fuel in deep horizontal boreholes. The spent fuel resulting from nuclear power generation is radioactive, hence it requires careful management. This spent fuel exists in a solid state, and in some cases may be useful in the future (e.g., for recycling and reuse as reactor fuel). As such, there is a need to place spent fuel in a secure environment from which it may be retrieved for some interval of time, but which will also continue to isolate the spent fuel from the surrounding environment over the long term. Extensive research has been conducted globally on deep geological repositories suitable for long-term storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel in non-porous rocks like shale, halite (rock salt) or granite. Repository designs planned for imminent use are based on mining and tunneling technologies. The design selected for use in Canada includes a vertical shaft sunk to the desired depth, from which a network of access tunnels and storage rooms are excavated laterally. Two possible sites in Ontario are being considered for this type of repository. The main goal of this research is to develop technologies for secure, long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel in deep geological repositories constructed using horizontal boreholes drilled from ground surface. The research would build on previous research in conventional repository design and the tremendous advancements achieved in horizontal drilling and completion technology in the past 25 years, seeking the best means of combining and adapting these technologies to develop a relatively low cost, flexible, scalable and secure means of storage. The specific objectives of this proposal are to assess and design borehole-based repositories in two rock formations deep beneath the Canadian prairies; i.e., a thick halite formation and a dense crystalline rock formation. This research program will help us achieve safe, low-emissions energy production, provide economic benefits for people and communities involved in mining and nuclear power, and support a flexible power generation option (SMRs) well-suited for remote Canadian communities. The research will also lead to uniquely trained, highly-qualified personnel experienced in the design of subsurface infrastructure for use in a variety of energy development and engineering applications.

核能发电预计将在向低碳能源未来过渡方面发挥重要作用。这将包括继续使用大型发电厂，类似于包括加拿大在内的各地几十年来使用的发电厂。然而，随着小型模块化反应堆的出现，核能发电的新机会正在出现。新玩法省、安大略省、萨斯喀彻温省和阿尔伯塔省最近签署了一份谅解备忘录，其中列出了在未来10年内实施一些SMR设计的计划。拟议的研究将通过开发在水平深井中储存乏核燃料的备选方案来支持这些计划。核能发电产生的乏燃料具有放射性，因此需要谨慎管理。这种乏燃料以固态存在，并且在某些情况下可能在未来有用（例如，用于再循环和再用作反应堆燃料）。因此，需要将乏燃料放置在安全的环境中，在一定的时间间隔内可以从该环境中回收乏燃料，但该环境也将继续长期将乏燃料与周围环境隔离。在全球范围内对适合于在页岩、岩盐或花岗岩等无孔岩石中长期储存和处置乏核燃料的深层地质处置库进行了广泛研究。计划即将使用的储存库设计以采矿和隧道技术为基础。在加拿大选用的设计包括一个垂直竖井，竖井下沉到所需深度，从竖井中横向开挖通道和储藏室网络。目前正在考虑在安大略的两个地点建立这类处置库。这项研究的主要目标是开发技术，在利用地面水平钻孔建造的深层地质处置库中安全、长期地储存乏核燃料。这项研究将建立在传统储存库设计的研究和过去25年来水平钻井和完井技术取得的巨大进步的基础上，寻求结合和调整这些技术的最佳方法，以开发成本相对较低，灵活，可扩展和安全的储存手段。该提案的具体目标是评估和设计位于加拿大大草原深处的两个岩层中的钻孔处置库，即：一个厚的岩盐层和一个致密的结晶岩层。该研究计划将帮助我们实现安全，低排放的能源生产，为参与采矿和核电的人们和社区提供经济利益，并支持非常适合加拿大偏远社区的灵活发电选择（SMR）。该研究还将导致独特的训练，高素质的人员在地下基础设施的设计经验，用于各种能源开发和工程应用。