Geologic disposal at deep depth is an acceptable way to dispose of high-level radioactive waste and isolate it from the biosphere. The geological repository system comprises an engineered barrier system (EBS) and the host rock. The system aims to delay radionuclide migration through groundwater flow, and also, the flow affects the saturation of the bentonite in the EBS. The thermal conductivity of bentonite is a function of saturation, so the temperature in the EBS is directly related to the flow system. High-temperature results in the two-phase flow, and the two-phase flow system also affects the flow system. Therefore, comprehending the influencing parameters on the flow system is critical to ensure the safety of the disposal system. Various studies have been performed to figure out the complex two-phase flow characteristics, and numerical simulation is considered an effective way to predict the coupled behavior. DECOVALEX (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments) is one of the most famous international cooperating projects to develop numerical methods for thermo-hydro-mechanicalchemical interaction, and Task C in the DECOVALEX-2023 has the purpose of simulating the Fullscale Emplacement (FE) experiment at the Mont-Terri underground research laboratory. We used OGS-FLAC, a self-developed numerical simulator combining OpenGeoSys and FLAC3D, for the simulation and targeted to analyze the effecting parameters on the two-phase flow system. We focused on the parameters of bentonite, a key component of the disposal system, and analyzed the effect of compressibility and air entry pressure on the flow system. Compressibility is a parameter included in the storage term, defining the fluid storage capacity of the medium. While air entry pressure is a crucial value of the water retention curve, defining the relation between saturation and capillary pressure. From a series of sensitivity analyses, low compressibility resulted in faster flow due to low storage term, while low air entry pressure slowed flow inflow into the bentonite. Low air entry pressure means the air easily enters the medium; hence the flow rate becomes lower based on the relativity permeability definition. Based on the sensitivity analysis, we further investigate the effect of shotcrete around the tunnel and excavation damaged zone. Also, long-term analysis considering heat decay of the radioactive waste will be considered in future studies.

Coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) processes are essential for the long-term performance of deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In this study, a numerical sensitivity analysis was performed to analyze the effect of rock properties on THM responses after the execution of the heater test at the Kamaishi mine in Japan. The TOUGHFLAC simulator was applied for the numerical simulation assuming a continuum model for coupled THM analysis. The rock properties included in the sensitivity study were the Young’s modulus, permeability, thermal conductivity, and thermal expansion coefficients of crystalline rock, rock salt, and clay. The responses, i.e., temperature, water content, displacement, and stress, were measured at monitoring points in the buffer and near-field rock mass during the simulations. The thermal conductivity had an overarching impact on THM responses. The influence of Young’s modulus was evident in the mechanical behavior, whereas that of permeability was noticed through the change in the temperature and water content. The difference in the THM responses of the three rock type models implies the importance of the appropriate characterization of rock mass properties with regard to the performance assessment of the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

Charcoal canisters are broadly used for radon detection because of their handiness and short sampling period. Radon detection using charcoal canisters are known to be susceptible to surrounding conditions such as temperature and humidity. Public radon inspectors cannot handle extreme temperature, and the relative humidity can differ in districts due to the use of different types of construction. Thus, if relative humidity can be controlled at the entrance of a charcoal canister, radon inspectors will be able to procure more reliable data. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of existing filters in a charcoal canister and to apply a new type of filter (Super Absorbent Polymers, SAP) that can control the moisture penetrating into the charcoal canister. Based on adequate case studies using the new filter, radon data have shown over 98% close to the reference data irrespective of varying moisture levels. Meanwhile, basic filters showed 88% similarity compared to the reference data, which means that charcoal canisters were affected by moisture. The SAP filter is reasonably inexpensive and once it turns into its gel shape (which, in turn, is saturated by moisture), it can be easily replaced. This filter will not only be able to provide more accurate radon data, but also apply to other gas phase material detections that are sensitive to moisture in the air.

지면반사도 정보는 열평형 및 환경/기후 모니터링에 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 정지궤도위성의 Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) 관측에서 300-500 nm 파장 영역의 지면반사도 산출 시에 오차 유발 요 소에 대한 민감도를 조사하였다. 장차 GEMS 지면반사도 산출 시에 오차 분석을 위하여 극궤도 위성의 MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS; 공간 해상도 1 km×1 km) 자료 및 Ozone Mapping Instrument (OMI; 12 km×24 km) 자료 그리고 복사전달모델 수치실험도 분석에 사용하였다. 본 연구에서 오차 유발 요소는 구름, 레일리 산란, 에어로졸, 오존 그리고 지면 특성이다. GEMS 저해상도(8 km×7 km)에서의 구름 탐지율은 MODIS 대비 약 79% 이었으나, GEMS 화소의 운량이 40% 이하에서는 상대적으로 낮았다. 이러한 경향은 구름 이외의 다른 효과(에어로졸, 지면 특성)로 인하여 주로 발생하였다. RGB 영상과 복사전달모델 계산을 기초로 조사된 레일리 산란 효과는 육지에 비하여 해양 지역에서 뚜렷하였다. 지면반사도가 0.2보다 작은 경우에 위성관측 대기상단 반사도는 에어로졸 양에 비례 하였으나, 0.2보다 큰 경우에는 그 반대 경향을 보였다. 또한 에어로졸 양에 의한 지면반사도 산출 오차는 자외선 영역 에서 파장에 따라 급격하게 증가하였으나, 가시광선에서는 일정하거나 다소 감소하였다. 오존 흡수는 자외선 영역(328- 354 nm) 중 328 nm에서 가장 크게 나타났다. 지면반사도가 0.15인 육지 경우에 음의 오존전량 아노말리(-100 DU)로 인한 지면반사도 산출 오차는 +0.1이었다. 본 연구는 GEMS 위성관측을 이용한 지면반사도 원격탐사의 정확도를 높이 는데 기여할 수 있다.