Integrated Hydrologic Modelling for Nuclear Waste Management

Integrated groundwater–surface water hydrologic modelling is ideal for assessing the viability of nuclear waste repository sites and site design performance, in terms of both long-term operations and contaminant release scenario analysis.

The HydroGeoSphere (HGS) approach provides an accurate and robust method of simulating radionuclide transport in support of infrastructure decommissioning analysis. HGS also provides state-of-the-art means to investigate the potential impact of climate change on site hydrologic conditions, and on contaminant plume migration.

Benefits of Integrated Hydrologic Modelling

  • Confidently seek regulatory approval

  • Minimize uncertainty

  • Increase operational efficiency

  • Mitigate risk

  • Improved understanding of surface/subsurface hydrology

Night view of a nuclear power plant with cooling towers emitting steam, surrounded by trees and a lit-up town with streets and buildings.

Minimize uncertainty inherent in empirical modelling techniques by relying on HydroGeoSphere’s physics-based approach to hydrologic modelling.

A large industrial power plant with cooling towers emitting steam along a river with greenery nearby.

Increase operational efficiency by removing the need for distinct surface/groundwater teams/models and ensure fidelity across surface and subsurface simulation domains.

A nuclear power plant with cooling towers emitting steam, situated alongside a river with some greenery and a road, under a partly cloudy sky.

Mitigate risk of environmental contamination through unlimited scenario analysis. Model the fate of radionuclide solutes across all model domains including surface and discrete fracture networks.

Construction site inside a tunnel with an excavator and construction equipment.
Two construction workers in hard hats inside a large underground tunnel, with one using surveying equipment and the other observing, illuminated by overhead lights.

Optimize efficiency of tunnel dewatering operations by incorporating excavation damage and grouted tunnel zones.

Optimize site-location of deep geologic repositories using the backward-in-time transport simulation capabilities, and understand the impact of climate change on long-term hydrology.

3D geological data visualizations with color-coded blocks and line markers, featuring a hand icon with connected nodes below.

Improved understanding of preferential flow paths via a dual domain formulation, or the incorporation of fracture networks as discrete model components.

Special Projects

Aquanty’s HGS simulation technology is emerging as an integral part of deep geologic repository and mine closure design optimization to verify that post-mining hydrologic conditions meet stringent regulatory criteria.

Aerial view of a nuclear power plant with multiple reactors and cooling towers surrounded by water and green landscape.

Large-scale numerical simulation of groundwater flow and solute transport in discretely-fractured crystalline bedrock:

“A large-scale fluid flow and solute transport model was developed [using HydroGeoSphere] for the crystalline bedrock at Olkiluoto Island, Finland, which is considered as potential deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel.” (Blessent et al., 2011)

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Diagram showing a nuclear waste repository in Japan with a tunnel measuring 4 meters by 4 meters. The upper section illustrates a detailed view of the repository with color-coded stress or flow data. The lower section depicts the construction site with a cross-section of the tunnel, highlighting distinct excavation zones: EDZ (excavation damaged zone, 1 meter thick) and GZ (grout zone, 2 meters thick).

Improving precision in regional scale numerical simulations of groundwater flow into underground openings:

A new tunnel boundary condition was developed for HydroGeoSphere to simulate changes to the water table from underground operations. Supports advanced tunnel dewatering simulation by incorporating excavation damage and grouted tunnel zones. Account for time-varying hydraulic conductivity, fracture development, and land surface subsistence

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