Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling
In the development of deep geological repositories (DGRs), performance assessment modeling is used to evaluate the integrity and performance of the engineered and geological barriers for thousands or millions of years of evolution of the disposal system. To evaluate the suitability of a site for a D...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/17/6121 |
| _version_ | 1797495778321629184 |
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| author | Alexandros Papafotiou Chao Li Dominik Zbinden Mohamed Hayek Michael J. Hannon Paul Marschall |
| author_facet | Alexandros Papafotiou Chao Li Dominik Zbinden Mohamed Hayek Michael J. Hannon Paul Marschall |
| author_sort | Alexandros Papafotiou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the development of deep geological repositories (DGRs), performance assessment modeling is used to evaluate the integrity and performance of the engineered and geological barriers for thousands or millions of years of evolution of the disposal system. To evaluate the suitability of a site for a DGR, geoscientific data from dedicated site investigation programs are integrated into site-specific assessments. This paper presents the development and implementation of a modeling workflow aimed at comparing three potential siting areas for a DGR in Switzerland from the viewpoint of long-term safety and technical feasibility. The workflow follows the guidelines of the national regulator addressing safety relevant criteria such as the barrier efficiency of the host rock and its mechanical and chemical integrity in response to repository-induced influences and the long-term stability of the repository site over geological scales. In the regulatory requirements, the role of parametric, conceptual, and scenario uncertainty has been identified as an issue of special importance in the site selection process. The assessment approach comprises a portfolio of numerical models for the simulation of solute, gas and heat transport in the repository nearfield. The modeling was performed with deterministic as well as probabilistic variants integrated in an indicator-based approach that allows the consistent comparison of the candidate sites using quantitative dimensionless performance indices. The model-based assessment of the sites allows a traceable, transparent, and verifiable implementation of the site selection process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eca04f74f3f848d1aad4d6ea0dc48673 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:54:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-eca04f74f3f848d1aad4d6ea0dc486732023-11-23T13:00:37ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-08-011517612110.3390/en15176121Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment ModelingAlexandros Papafotiou0Chao Li1Dominik Zbinden2Mohamed Hayek3Michael J. Hannon4Paul Marschall5INTERA Inc. Swiss Branch, Hardstrasse 73, CH-5430 Wettingen, SwitzerlandINTERA Inc. Swiss Branch, Hardstrasse 73, CH-5430 Wettingen, SwitzerlandINTERA Inc. Swiss Branch, Hardstrasse 73, CH-5430 Wettingen, SwitzerlandINTERA Inc. Swiss Branch, Hardstrasse 73, CH-5430 Wettingen, SwitzerlandINTERA Inc., 101 W Kirkwood Av. Suite 134, Bloomington, IN 47401, USANagra, Hardstrasse 73, CH-5430 Wettingen, SwitzerlandIn the development of deep geological repositories (DGRs), performance assessment modeling is used to evaluate the integrity and performance of the engineered and geological barriers for thousands or millions of years of evolution of the disposal system. To evaluate the suitability of a site for a DGR, geoscientific data from dedicated site investigation programs are integrated into site-specific assessments. This paper presents the development and implementation of a modeling workflow aimed at comparing three potential siting areas for a DGR in Switzerland from the viewpoint of long-term safety and technical feasibility. The workflow follows the guidelines of the national regulator addressing safety relevant criteria such as the barrier efficiency of the host rock and its mechanical and chemical integrity in response to repository-induced influences and the long-term stability of the repository site over geological scales. In the regulatory requirements, the role of parametric, conceptual, and scenario uncertainty has been identified as an issue of special importance in the site selection process. The assessment approach comprises a portfolio of numerical models for the simulation of solute, gas and heat transport in the repository nearfield. The modeling was performed with deterministic as well as probabilistic variants integrated in an indicator-based approach that allows the consistent comparison of the candidate sites using quantitative dimensionless performance indices. The model-based assessment of the sites allows a traceable, transparent, and verifiable implementation of the site selection process.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/17/6121DGRperformance assessmentL/ILWHLWsite selectionuncertainty |
| spellingShingle | Alexandros Papafotiou Chao Li Dominik Zbinden Mohamed Hayek Michael J. Hannon Paul Marschall Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling Energies DGR performance assessment L/ILW HLW site selection uncertainty |
| title | Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling |
| title_full | Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling |
| title_fullStr | Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling |
| title_short | Site Selection for a Deep Geological Repository in Switzerland: The Role of Performance Assessment Modeling |
| title_sort | site selection for a deep geological repository in switzerland the role of performance assessment modeling |
| topic | DGR performance assessment L/ILW HLW site selection uncertainty |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/17/6121 |
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