Modeling Unsaturated Flow and Transport Processes in Fractured Tuffs of Yucca Mountain [electronic resource]
This paper presents a field modeling study characterizing fluid flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a proposed underground repository for storing high-level radioactive waste. The 500 to 700 meter thick unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain consists of highly he...
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Online Access |
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| Corporate Author: | |
| Format: | Government Document Electronic eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Washington, D.C. : Oak Ridge, Tenn. :
United States. Dept. of Energy. Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management ; distributed by the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy,
2003.
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| Summary: | This paper presents a field modeling study characterizing fluid flow and tracer transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a proposed underground repository for storing high-level radioactive waste. The 500 to 700 meter thick unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain consists of highly heterogeneous layers of anisotropic, fractured ash flow and air fall tuffs. Characterization of fluid flow and heat transfer through such a system has been a challenge due to the heterogeneities prevalent on various scales. Quantitative evaluation of water, gas, and heat flow by means of numerical simulation is essential for design and performance assessment of the repository. A three-dimensional numerical flow and transport model will be discussed. The model has been calibrated against field-measured data and takes into account the coupled processes of unsaturated flow and tracer transport in the highly heterogeneous, unsaturated fractured porous rock. The modeling approach of the model is based on a dual-continuum formulation of coupled multiphase fluid and tracer transport through fractured porous rock. As application examples, effects of current and future climates on the unsaturated zone processes are evaluated to aid in the assessment of the proposed repository's system performance. |
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| Item Description: | Published through the Information Bridge: DOE Scientific and Technical Information. 07/15/2003. "lbnl--53439" Modflow and More 2003 Understanding Through Modeling, Golden, CO (US), 09/18/2003--09/21/2003. Bodvarsson, G.S.; Wu, Yu-Shu; Lu, Guoping; Zhang, Keni. |
| Physical Description: | 5 pages : digital, PDF file. |