HE: Heater experiment - rock and bentonite thermo-hydromechanical (THM) processes in the near field

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 01.0072-2
• Projekttitel Englisch: HE: Heater experiment - rock and bentonite thermo-hydromechanical (THM) processes in the near field

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Borehole heating; thermal effects; THM; coupled processes; modeling; opalinus clay; bentonite; buffer; heater demonstration project;
Nuclear Fission; Radioactive Waste; Safety

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: FIKW-2001-00132

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 5.5.2 Nuclear fission

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Weitere Hinweise und Angaben (Englisch)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktive Abfälle NAGRA

Sicherheitsanalysen

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: Bundesanstalt für Geowiss. + Rohstoffe, Hannover (D)

Abstract (Englisch)

The aim is to identify the coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) processes in both the bentonite buffer and the host rock clay formation after a medium-term heating phase at 100-C under saturated conditions.
A heating tube with a diameter of 10cm was installed in a 7 m deep borehole with a diameter of 30 cm. The gap between the heater and the clay host rock was backfilled with compacted bentonite blocks. A constant temperature of 100-C will be maintained at the surface of the heater in contact with the artificially saturated bentonite buffer for about 18 months. The THM response in both the buffer and the rock will be monitored in-situ.
During this time-period modelling and supporting laboratory work will be performed. Thereafter the buffer and part of the surrounding host rock will be excavated for characterisation at the laboratory.
Additional modelling will be done to confirm the predictions of the first modelling period.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0072-2