Forced ventilation analysis of a commercial high-level nuclear waste repository in tuff. Topical report RSI-0175

This report addresses the feasibility of using blast cooling for rapid drift and formation cooling prior to a nuclear waste retrieval operation. A coupled conduction/convection analysis is used to examine the various parameters and conditions which control the blast cooling process for the purpose of assessing their relative significance and potential impact on developing a blast cooling scenario for a nuclear waste repository in tuff. Formation stability is addressed briefly with regard to the potential for thermal spalling induced by the rapid cooling of the heated repository walls.