Nuclear and radioactivity studies
Open access
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Abstract
Geological repositories for radioactive waste are sited and designed to provide a set of natural and engineered barriers that isolate the waste from the human environment and contain its associated radionuclides. Nonetheless, some release of radionuclides from a geological repository cannot be excluded over the Time frame of hundreds of thousands of years during which the waste presents a potential hazard. Thus, radiological consequence analysis is a key element of the post-closure safety case for deep geological repositories and provides essential insight into the efficiency of the multi-barrier system. This paper presents the current methodology and selected results of the radiological consequence analysis for a combined repository for high-level waste and low- and intermediate-level waste in an Opalinus Clay rock formation hundreds of metres below ground at a proposed site in Northern Switzerland. Deterministic and probabilistic simulations are performed to evaluate radionuclide transport, barrier efficiency, and associated uncertainties. Radionuclide migration in the liquid phase is modelled for a wide range of potentially safety-relevant radionuclides, while gas-phase transport focuses on C-14 released as methane under two-phase flow conditions. Results show that calculated dose rates are several orders of magnitude below Swiss regulatory protection criterion, demonstrating a large safety margin. Long-lived, weakly sorbing radionuclides, particularly I-129, dominate the calculated dose in a reference safety scenario that corresponds to the expected evolution of the repository and in a range of other scenarios, while most other radionuclides are effectively retained within the engineered barriers and the Opalinus Clay host rock. Probabilistic analyses and sensitivity studies identify key parameters controlling radionuclide release. Overall, the analysis confirms the robustness of the multi-barrier system and provides improved understanding of the Swiss deep geological repository system.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "The safety case for a deep geological repository in Switzerland: radiological consequence analysis and study of the barrier efficiency" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Nuclear and radioactivity studies research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Li2026safety,
title = {The safety case for a deep geological repository in Switzerland: radiological consequence analysis and study of the barrier efficiency},
author = {Xiaoshuo Li},
journal = {Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.3389/fnuen.2026.1843948},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnuen.2026.1843948}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Nuclear and radioactivity studies research papers?
Follow Nuclear and radioactivity studies research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for The safety case for a deep geological repository in Switzerland: radiological consequence analysis and study of the barrier efficiency. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app