Numerical simulation of a temporary repository of radioactive material

Numerical simulation of a temporary repository of radioactive material
E. De La Cruz-Sánchez; J. Klapp; E. Mayoral-Villa; R. González-Galán; A.M. Gómez-Torres; C.E. Alvarado-Rodríguez
International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, Vol. 12, No. 1 (2018) pp. 92 - 109
A bidimensional numerical simulation model for the analysis of dispersion of contaminants through a saturated porous medium using finite element method (FEM) was applied to study the transport of radioisotopes in a temporary nuclear repository. The 2D model used considers Darcy's law for calculating the velocity field, and then to solve the mass transport equation. Taking into account radionuclide decay the transport of long lived U-series daughters such as 238-U, 234-U, and 230-Th is evaluated. The model is validated using experimental data reported in the literature obtaining good agreement between the numerical results and the available experimental data. The radionuclide flow is highly irregular and it is influenced by failures in the area and its interactions in the fluid-solid matrix. The most important result of this work is the development of a validated model to describe the migration of radionuclides in saturated porous media with some fractures.