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Impacts of Fission Fragments on Nuclear Fuel Dissolution in Geological Disposal

Investigating how radiation damage by fission fragments affects the dissolution of spent nuclear fuel to assess potential radioactive contamination in geological disposal facilities. The study aims to understand the solubility of UO2 and its dissolution rate when subjected to radiation damage, providing crucial insights for nuclear waste management. This research contributes to enhancing safety measures for potential UK Geological Disposal Facilities and offers broader implications for nuclear fuel dissolution scenarios in various operational contexts.

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Impacts of Fission Fragments on Nuclear Fuel Dissolution in Geological Disposal

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  1. The effect of radiation damageby fission fragments on dissolutionof spent nuclear fuelAleksej Popel, PhD candidateSupervisor: Dr Ian FarnanDepartment of Earth SciencesUniversity of Cambridge 1

  2. Content Introduction into my project Key results Relevance of the work 2

  3. Introduction Several countries, including the UK, decided or considering direct disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel using Geological Disposal Facilities 3

  4. Geological Disposal It is expected that: ground water will enter the repository fuel containers and fuel cladding will be breached spent nuclear fuel will start to dissolve and radioactive nuclides will start to migrate into biosphere 4

  5. Geological Disposal • Need to know spent fuel solubility and dissolution rate to assess the extent of possible radioactive contamination: • extensive research in this area • but very little work on the effect of radiation damage on dissolution of spent nuclear fuel 5

  6. My Project Aim: to study the effect of radiation damage by fission fragments on dissolution of spent nuclear fuel 6

  7. Motivation: expect ↑ of solubility: i) structural effects: ↑ surface area ↑ lattice strain ii) chemical effects: U(IV) → U(V) & U(VI) ? Spent Fuel Fresh fuel (Z. Hiezl) ( J. Somers) vs 7

  8. Approach Use simulant fuel made out of depleted UO2 Simulate the effect of fission damage by ion irradiation at an accelerator Characterise the samples Conduct dissolution experiments 8

  9. Key results: replication of the real spent fuel microstructure Our effort Real Spent Fuel ( J. Somers) 9

  10. Key results: the effect of radiation damage on solubility of UO2 10

  11. Applications Direct: supports the safety case for a UK Geological Disposal Facility Indirect: i) general better understanding of nuclear fuel dissolution in the cases of the fuel failure in: - working reactors - reactor accidents - fuel ponds ii) extension of the fuel operating life (burn-up) 11

  12. Thanks for your attention! Aleksej Popel +44 1223 768357 ap499@cam.ac.uk Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street,Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3EQ, United Kingdom 12

  13. References • http://www.noldus.com/events/mb98/logo-cup1.gif - Cambridge University logo • http://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/ - Earth Sciences logo • http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1235798/battlelines_drawn_as_cumbrian_residents_square_up_over_nuclear_waste_site.html - NGR diagram • http://www.zmescience.com/science/physics/fission-tectonic-18072011/ - fission diagram • J. Somers F-BRIDGE presentation – HBS photo • Z. Hiezl – fresh UO2 photo 13

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