PROPERTIES OF DRY CRUSHED SALT AND RELATED CONSOLIDATED MEDIA WITH EMPHASIS ON THEIR GAS TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS

摘要

The authors have characterized gas-flow properties in dry and moist crushed salt beds. Motivation was related to ramifications of burial of packages of solidified radioactive waste, which generate heat, in salt mines using crushed salt as a back-fill material. Brine in bedded salt moves toward hot regions, releases water vapor, aids in waste package deterioration (possibly followed by activity release), and alters the back-fill properties.nOur first task was to determine whether dry back-fill would inhibit the flow of gases and aerosols of the type that might be released from a defective package. Experimental results, coupled with other considerations, indicate that unconsolidated salt does not constitute an effective barrier to gas-borne contaminants - even if their transport were diffusion controlled. No consideration was given to the filtering properties of the back-fill, however, and this may significantly inhibit aerosol transport.