Stochastic Modeling of Long-Term Waste Package Degradation Incorporating Expert Elicitation on Corrosion Processes

1999 ◽  
Vol 556 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Lee ◽  
K. G. Mori ◽  
D. E. Longsine ◽  
B. E. Bullard

AbstractThe Viability Assessment (VA) of the potential repository for high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada was completed [1]. In the VA design concept, a two-layer waste container provides the primary component of the engineered barrier system (EBS). The VA reference design specifies a 100-mm thick carbon steel as the outer barrier and a 20-mm thick Alloy 22 as the inner barrier. A stochastic simulation model was developed to analyze long-term performance of the waste package in the potential repository. The model was developed by incorporating the latest corrosion data and models for the candidate waste package materials and the information developed from the Waste Package Degradation Expert Elicitation (WPDEE) [2].The reference case results showed that only a small fraction of waste packages fail by localized corrosion (i.e., pit penetrations). The analysis also indicated the degradation mode that is most important to long-term waste package degradation is general corrosion (or passive dissolution) of the inner barrier under dripping conditions. However, the general corrosion rates for dripping conditions used in the analysis have a range over three to five orders of magnitude. This is due mainly to a lack of information on local chemical and electrochemical conditions on the inner barrier after the outer barrier breach. This paper discusses further the areas and issues that need improvement to reduce uncertainty in the waste package degradation analysis. It also discusses additional waste package degradation modes and associated processes that need to be included in the future analysis for the potential repository to enhance the confidence of the analysis.

1999 ◽  
Vol 556 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Lee ◽  
K. G. Mon ◽  
B. E. Bullard ◽  
D. E. Longsine

AbstractSensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the impact of a number of waste package and engineered barrier system (EBS) design options on long-term waste package degradation in the potential repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The evaluations were performed by analyzing the waste package degradation in terms of the first breach and first pit-breach profiles with time. Results for each design option were assessed by comparing to results for the reference-case design. An important finding from the analyses is that the waste package lifetime could be extended substantially by limiting and delaying the contact of dripping water with the Alloy 22 corrosion resistant material (CRM) barrier. In the current model, this would keep the CRM barrier outside the conditions that makes the alloy susceptible to localized corrosion. Uncertainty in waste package degradation analysis would be reduced by improved understanding and characterization of the processes that create the local exposure condition on waste package.


2002 ◽  
Vol 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon H. Lee ◽  
Kevin G. Mon ◽  
Dennis E. Longsine ◽  
Bryan E. Bullard ◽  
Ahmed M. Moniba

ABSTRACTThe technical basis for Site Recommendation (SR) of the potential repository for high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada has been completed. Long-term containment of the waste and subsequent slow release of radionuclides from the engineered barrier system (EBS) into the geosphere will rely on a robust waste package (WP) design, among other EBS components as well as the natural barrier system. The WP and drip shield (DS) degradation analyses for the total system performance assessment (TSPA) baseline model for the SR have shown that, based on the current corrosion models and assumptions, both the DSs and WPs do not fail within the regulatory compliance time period (10,000 years). From the perspective of initial WP failure time, the analysis results are encouraging because the upper bounds of the baseline case are likely to represent the worst case combination of key corrosion model parameters that significantly affect long-term performance of WPs in the potential repository. The estimated long life-time of the WPs in the current analysis is attributed mostly to the following two factors that delay the onset of stress corrosion cracking (SCC): (1) the stress mitigation to substantial depths from the outer surface in the dual closure-lid weld regions; and (2) the very low general-corrosion rate applied to the closure-lid weld regions to corrode the compressive stress zones. Uncertainties are associated with the current WP SCC analysis. These are stress mitigation on the closure-lid welds, characterization of manufacturing flaws applied to SCC, and general corrosion rate applied to the closurelid weld regions. These uncertainties are expected to be reduced as additional data and analyses are developed.


1994 ◽  
Vol 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narasi Sridhar ◽  
Darrell Dunn ◽  
Gustavo Cragnolino

AbstractLocalized corrosion in aqueous environments forms an important bounding condition for the performance assessment of high-level waste (HLW) container materials. A predictive methodology using repassivation potential is examined in this paper. It is shown, based on long-term (continuing for over 11 months) testing of alloy 825, that repassivation potential of deep pits or crevices is a conservative and robust parameter for the prediction of localized corrosion. In contrast, initiation potentials measured by short-term tests are non-conservative and highly sensitive to several surface and environmental factors. Corrosion data from various field tests and plant equipment performance are analyzed in terms of the applicability of repassivation potential. The applicability of repassivation potential for predicting the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and intergranular corrosion in chloride containing environments is also examined.


1993 ◽  
Vol 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Walton ◽  
Narasi Sridhar ◽  
Gustavo Cragnolino ◽  
Tony Torng ◽  
Prasad Nair

ABSTRACTOne of the requirements for the performance of waste packages prescribed in 10CFR 60.113 is that the high level waste must be “substantially completely” contained for a minimum period of 300 to 1000 years. During this period, the radiation and thermal conditions in the engineered barrier system and the near-field environment are dominated by fission product decay. In the present U.S design of the engineered barrier system, the outer container plays a dominant role in maintaining radionuclide containment. A quantitative methodology for analyzing the performance of the container is described in this paper. This methodology enables prediction of the evolution of the waste package environment in terms of temperature fields, stability of liquid water on the container surface, and concentration of aggressive ions such as chloride. The initiation and propagation of localized corrosion is determined by the corrosion potential of the container material and critical potentials for localized corrosion. The coiTOsion potential is estimated from the kinetics of the anodic and cathodic reactions including oxygen diffusion through scale layers formed on the container surface. The methodology described is applicable to a wide range of metals, alloys and environmental conditions.


1990 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gen Nakayama ◽  
Mastsuna Akashi

ABSTRACTThe general corrosion rate of mild steel is so small in neutral water environments that adequately provided corrosion allowance can ensure the requirement of one thousand years’ integrity of geological disposal package of high-level nuclear wastes. In alkaline water environments, however, mild steels can passivate themselves and often undergo localized corrosion in much the same manner stainless steels do in neutral water environments. This paper describes a study of localized corrosion behavior of the mild steel conducted to assess the long-term performance of the disposal packages. The critical potentials for pitting and crevice corrosion and critical pH for general corrosion-to-passivity transition were determined for neutral and alkaline water environments. Effects of temperature, pH, and chloride and other anion concentrations on the critical potentials and the critical pH were discussed. The initiation and propagation behavior of crevice corrosion was also analyzed under potentiostatic conditions.


2002 ◽  
Vol 713 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.W. Shoesmith

ABSTRACTPossible long term corrosion scenarios for the engineered barriers proposed for the Yucca Mountain (Nevada, USA) repository are reviewed.Introduction:The materials proposed for the engineered barriers in the Yucca Mountain repository (Nevada, USA), Alloy-22 for the waste packages (WP) and titanium Grade-7 (Ti-7) for the drip shield (DS), appear unlikely to suffer localized corrosion (LC) and have very low passive corrosion (PC) rates (1–3). Since environmental conditions will become more benign as temperatures decline and aqueous environments become more dilute (4), this leads to the prediction of exceedingly long waste package lifetimes. In this review, possible corrosion scenarios are discussed in the context of the anticipated evolution in the repository environment.


1990 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Sridhar ◽  
G. Cragnolino ◽  
W. Machowski

ABSTRACTThe effect of environmental variables on the localized corrosion behavior of alloy 825 is examined in this paper. Cyclic, potentiodynamic polarization tests based on a two-level, full factorial experimental design were conducted. An index incorporating both the visual and scanning electron microscope examinations of localized corrosion and the electrochemical parameters was used for the statistical analysis. The analysis showed that chloride is the single most important promoter of localized corrosion, while nitrate was the single most important inhibitor. Fluoride was a weak inhibitor, especially at low chloride levels. Sulfate was a weak promoter, especially at high chloride levels. Temperature did not have a significant effect within the chloride levels examined. Separate experiments indicated that silicon, added as metasilicate, did not have any significant effect on localized corrosion. The adverse effect of chloride was observed at concentrations as low as 100 ppm. Addition of H2O2 increased the corrosion potential of alloy 825 to a value above the repassivation potential observed in the 300 ppm chloride solution.


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