MODELOVÁ CIRKULACE FLUID V EXPERIMENTÁLNÍ NÁDOBĚ MOCK-UP-CZ

Experiment simulating the storage of spent nuclear fuel in the canister filled by bentonite mixture took place in the Center of experimental Geotechnics (CEG) on the Faculty of Civil engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague during the years 2002–2006. After the realisation of the experiment it was shown, that both non-homogeneous geochemical and temperature fields were established. The main aim of the work was focused on the evaluation of the fluid flow characteristics inside the container, especially on the direction and flow velocities influenced by the increased temperature. Numerical modelling using the SHEMAT computer code was used to simulate the fluid flow.Mathematical modelling confirmed the probable formation of the convection cells along the heater with variable velocities depending on the hydraulic and thermal properties of the bentonite mixture and on the physical properties of the saturating fuid. The generated flow field could be the driving force for the geochemical non-homogeneities.