A simplified methodology for nuclear waste repository thermal analysis

Abstract A simplified model for repository thermal analysis is presented in this paper. The proposed model is to provide a general capability to efficiently calculate the time dependent temperature field in a geologic repository. The model analyzes both horizontal and vertical emplacement of nuclear waste packages. Verification of the code was performed based on the comparison with detailed numerical method-based standard models. The new model’s utility was demonstrated through a case study where a large number of repository-scale thermal analysis calculations is needed.