Fluid Flow through porous Media: Applications in nuclear Waste Management
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
Bentonite clays are a fundamental material in radioactive waste storage, as they can provide an effective seal against leakages. Their characteristics make them ideal for use in nuclear waste repositories as a buffer between radioactive materials and surrounding formations. Nevertheless, their behaviour when hydrated, as well as their nanoscale pore structure, is still poorly understood. Through the use of advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques, combined with other technologies such as differential scanning calorimetry, and mercury porosimetry, it is possible to further investigate the matter. Preliminary results suggest fluid flow in compacted bentonites might not be homogeneous but rather tend to follow specific flow patterns, which in turn can be caused by pore size distributions and pore-pore interactions, as well as small scale heterogeneities or formation processes. This work will thus aim to explore all these possibilities.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Matthew Hall (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Francesco Scotti (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1936361 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Francesco Scotti |
| Description | Artificial bentonite clays used as buffering materials for geological repositories have been shown to be more heterogeneous than expected. Additionally, simulated flow has shown how fluids tend to follow preferential pathways further down the samples, rather than showing a homogeneous fluid front. This is expected to have a major impact in how repositories are designed. |
| Exploitation Route | The fluid flow simulation procedures, based on tri-axially contained flow cells, as well as the novel characterisation methods, based on deuterium spin-echo NMR imaging, can be be used in the future to characterise a wide range of both geologic and non geologic materials, including catalysts and foams. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |