PAMIRe

Transfer of granitic rock migration parameters from microscale to real scale in the rock massive (PAMIRE).

This project with the number TA04020986 was financed within the framework of the 4th tender in the „ALFA“ program to support applied research and experimental development since 2014. (2014 – 2017)

I. Introduction to the project

 - The main goal of the project        

There is only a limited amount of parameters in terms of the Czech crystalline rocks (e.g. granites) describing the retention mechanisms of migrating substances in the rock environment both in the laboratory and real scale. The laboratory experiments are not sufficient to describe the migration processes taking place in the rock environment, because in most cases it is impossible to maintain the real conditions in the laboratory scale (e.g. pressure, size of the samples, flow velocity, solution properties, time scale). Sample processing plays also a significant role during the laboratory experiments (e.g. drilling, cutting, grinding, polishing), because these activities may affect the degree of surface disruption leading to new sorption and diffusion characteristics. The data acquired form such experiments do not match the reality.

Development of suitable methodologies enabling the transfer of laboratory data to the real conditions of granitic rock massive, considered to be the host environment for radioactive waste disposal, is a principal stage for the evaluation of particular rock environment from the point of view of safety function as a potential barrier. Data transfer to the real scale must include predictive modeling and where possible to carry out medium-scale and in-situ experiments which enable as mentioned above to preserve the real conditions (pressure, temperature, Eh, pH of underground water etc.) in the rock environment and comparing results with the data acquired in the laboratory.

The main goal of the project is to assess the degree of reproducibility of outputs from laboratory study of tracers migration processes compared to the results from the medium-scale (dm) experiments with the option of subsequent implementation to the real conditions of granitic rocks (in-situ experiments in URC Josef) and to the models, which evaluate the diffusion of radionuclides into the rock material.

Our results can significantly help to decrease the uncertainty of quantification of tracers’ migration parameters in the rock environment resulting from the simplification of real processes using micro-scale samples in the laboratory experiments.

 At the same time the other goal is to construct suitable experiment devices, compile working and methodical procedures (guidelines), which would allow to transfer the information about the rock characteristics and running processes from micro-scale (mm) to real-scale environment of rock massive (X0 m).

And the last but not least goal is to implement procedures enabling to comprise all the previous aims and at the same time were not applied in the wider scale, whether this concerns utilizing of special tracers (radionuclides) or modern analytical methods.  

II. List of participants

Coordinator:

ÚJV Řež, a. s.

Co-beneficiaries:

SG Geotechnika a.s/ARCADIS CZ a.s.

České vysoké učení technické v Praze

Centrum experimentální geotechniky

PROGEO, s.r.o.

Ústav geoniky AV ČR, v. v. i.

III. Project outputs

• Functional samples – available for download below
  • FV TACR 2402-2017-1  => Set-up for active medium-scale laboratory experiments (up to 140mm)
  • FV TACR 2402-2017-2  => Set-up for active medium-scale laboratory experiments (up to 300mm)
  • FV TACR 2402-2017-3  => Set-up for electromigration methods in medium-scale
• Quotations – project outputs – available for download below