Optimising tunnelled and shaft configurations within raised ground, (mountain, ridge, fell and / or hillside) to enable storage of nuclear materials

Abstract

Creation of an underground space at or above sea level, preferably for use as a storage site for nuclear materials. The underground space comprises tunnels and shafts. Impact of radioactive substances on the underground space and on the local geology and hydrology is preferably reduced by aligning tunnels, ventilation routes and drainage routes with the local geology. The underground space may be on single or multiple levels and the tunnels may be straight, curved and / or looped. The tunnels may or may not have caverns and cross-passages. The shafts may be single or multiple and may be used for spoil removal or storage spaces. The variability of the natural geology may be mitigated by creating stable enclosed spaces with gravity drainage and adequate ventilation. Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) or blasting methods may be used in the creation of the underground spaces. The underground space may be lined and filled with fibre or steel reinforced concrete, bore grouting and cementitious materials, sealing and admixtures, thick walled steel pipes, bolted cast or forged segments.

Description

Title: Optimising tunnelled and shaft configurations within raised ground, (mountain, ridge, fell and / or hillside) to enable storage of nuclear materials to be achievable. There are limited locations, geological and hydrological characteristics which are acceptable for siting nuclear materials storage infrastructure and facilities in the United Kingdom. The observations from investigating potential locations have led to having to establish and apply processes and approaches in this description, the claims, drawings and abstract. It is recognised from assessments of geological and terrain locations that some mitigations may be introduced to modify the infrastructure, and that site locations can be configured to reduce the extent of impacts and improve the performance of the infrastructure constructed in a specific area / location by application of multiple measures. Using specific construction equipment, techniques and materials now enable facilities and infrastructure to be designed, configured, and delivered on a significant scale in hard geological bedrock. The use of construction materials, interfaces and processes enables water ingress and fluid seepage to be reduced along with the use of gravity drainage to the sea and / or river through process plant. This enables fluid flows to be managed and routed out of storage facilities and treated. Installing ventilation shafts, with specialised filtering and ventilation plant enables the gases to be vented and internal and local external environments to be controlled. Directional drilling, pipejacking or spallation methods can be used in addition to the use of the tunnel bores and / or shafts for electricity supply lines, air, vacuum, water / cooling water, fire control and communication lines. This invention relates to processes and methods for the creation of stable underground spaces at or above sea level that are able to maximise the volumes, lengths and numbers of tunnels and / or shafts and / or drilled holes within one of more areas of terrain at or above sea level and to condition and mitigate for local variability of the geology, hydrology and other characteristics being tunnelled and or installed with shafts to enable the confidence in safeguarding and security of the infrastructure and / or facilities and / or spaces to be achieved, for single and multiple straight, curved and / or looped tunnels, and for single or multiple shafts to the satisfaction of the authorities administering permissions and regulatory processes. To date the United Kingdom has not concluded a feasible site or sites to store some types of nuclear materials inventories permanently and for the future requirements, as Net Zero Carbon and Climate Change policies indicate are essential for the nuclear power facilities and for other nuclear materials applications to be managed for disposal and final storage. This invention of processes and methods to treat and build in geologies with deficiencies is unique and is achievable by applying the combinations of civil engineering and nuclear engineering and selecting areas where modifications to the geologies to add mitigations for deficiencies are achievable and is in recognition of the limitations of the geology and hydrology within the United Kingdom, in areas such as West Cumbria by making use of raised ground terrain and coast. Recognition of the requirements of communities, the previous proposals, and the added difficulties of mining to depths and having to create stable structures within large mined underground areas whether on shore and under the sea has led to this application from examination of what may be possible to construct and operate at or above sea level within the local terrain geologies on sufficient scales and across specific areas to enable the United Kingdom’s nuclear materials inventories to be stored for disposal safely and securely. With significant volumes of nuclear materials being processed, and in interim storages in Cumbria and with the local expertise for managing these inventories in Cumbria and the employment demands within Cumbria and after reviewing the United Kingdom’s options, Cumbria was selected to test the processes and methods. It was visited several areas were identified as candidates and reviewed for different configurations of tunnels and / or shafts. This invention processes and methods for creating safeguarded underground spaces for nuclear material storage will provide the safeguarding and security to meet regulatory requirements by enabling some raised terrain locations to be adapted for nuclear material storage, by adding mitigation measures and facilities to the locations to overcome and mitigate known issues, as dual lining of tunnels with both reinforced concrete primary linings, external ground stabilisation treatments and inclusion of a water tight secondary lining. The processes incorporate techniques using databases, borehole drill core log assessments and geological maps and reports that indicate bedrock types and terrain that is at or above sea level and within low population areas that provides the potential to construct and install tunnels, or tunnels and shafts that are at or above sea level and with sufficient overburden height and width for the scale of storage envisaged and provide acceptable separation distances between the different elevation levels and alignments of the tunnels and the ability for the construction machines, equipment, plant to be launched, operated and extracted from worksites. The invention processes will make use of a range of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping methods, geological and hydrological data bases and commercial maps where elevations and sections and route alignments can be assessed and superimposed to provide information for designers and contractors. The existing reports and studies, the BGS bedrock databases, the OS Maps and historic mining records and computer-based maps were used to determine what methodologies, methods, practices, and configurations were possible to mitigate for deficiencies. Similar scales of tunnelling and shaft sinking works and handling equipment applications in the United Kingdom, USA, France, Finland, Norway, and Sweden were considered to determine the practical processes and methods and configurations that were constructable. The outcome of the reviews resulted in a determining a Master Plan for Nuclear Materials storage and handling facilities and infrastructure from which this invention of processes, methods and configurations was created and determined. Statement of Invention The invention is the means of creation stable underground spaces at or / and above sea level that are able to maximise the volumes, lengths and numbers of tunnels and / or shafts and / or drilled holes within one of more areas of terrain at or above sea level and to condition the interfaces with the geology and strata to mitigate for local variability of the geology, hydrology and other characteristics which are being tunnelled and / or installed with shafts to bring into being and enable the authorities and communities to have confidence in the safeguarding and security of the infrastructure and / or facilities and / or spaces storing the nuclear materials to be achieved for single or multiple levels of tunnels, for one or more straight, curved and / or looped tunnels with caverns or no caverns, with or without cross- 3 passages and single or multiple shafts for spoil removal or storage spaces to provide the requirements of the communities, permissions, and regulatory processes. The invention can solve the problems of variabilities in the local natural geology and mitigate for deficiencies by creating specific and stable enclosed spaces with mainly gravity drainage and adequate ventilation, where the released fluids can be processed to provide and maintain more stable internal environments, within, at or above sea level in raised ground terrains as in figure 1. The invention is able to transform raised ground terrain using tunnel boring machines (TBMs), and / or blasting methods and technologies to create tunnels along specific routes, with gradients, of sufficient internal and external dimensions, and lengths of tunnels arranged in configurations that enable safeguarding methods to be incorporated that overcome the local geological, topographical changes and inconsistencies and adverse characteristics, including the presence of water flows, water pressures and hydro / ground chemistry, and to stabilise and fill gaps, cracks, ledges and faults. The processes will use reinforced (fibre, steel) concrete primary lining segments, external and / or internal bore grouting and cementitious materials, sealants and admixtures, thickwalled steel pipes, bolted cast, or forged segments where needed to enable the interfaces between the local geology and installed materials and structures to be formed and to maintain manageable barriers in the presence of water and gases by using the range of technologies available in construction and installation that can be combined to safeguard and stabilize the internal spaces and structures of the constructed sections, so the space is suitable for the placement and storage of boxes, casks, canisters, flasks and / or bespoke containers that contain the nuclear materials and associated fabrication materials. Optional features and List of Drawings The invention of processes and methods will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the type of above sea level Terrain with four Tunnel Levels (L1, L2, L3, L4) that can provide a suitable storage site subject to volumes, geology, access, and community acceptance. Shafts are included in the terrain elevation. Figure 2 shows the arrangement of Spent Fuel Placement on Plinths along one side or centre line of Tunnel (Plinths placed to not exceed thermal loading levels). The box is marked E and the cylinder is marked F. The infilled plinths are marked P1 for the first installed nuclear material containers and marked P2 for the second installed nuclear material containers to keep within the thermal loading requirements and become more effective storage spaces in time. Plinths with containments can be shrouded or the tunnel bore backfilled to prevent water ingress is required. Figure 3 shows how different Storage / Deposition Boxes are installed in sections of Tunnels packed as the final locations. A illustrates 12 ILW containers within a tunnel bore and B illustrates 4 HAW containers within a tunnel bore. Figure 4 shows Looping a Tunnelling configuration to increase underground space utilisation by enabling tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to have the space to turn and change direction. Lines C and / or D mark the locations where spoil shafts can be constructed to enable spoil to be moved from the reverse TBM drive conveyor to the lower spoil conveyor and out of the raised ground terrain. Figure 5 shows the use of the Raise Bore Rig Shafts to reduce spoil conveyor length when constructing second loop of primary tunnels. (Shafts can be used also to store Spent Fuel Element Casks / Canisters). C and / or D mark the locations where spoil shafts enable spoil to be moved from the reverse TBM drive conveyor to the lower spoil conveyor and out of the raised ground terrain. Similar shafts can be constructed by raise bore drilling and from the terrain surface by reverse circulation drilling if required. In figure 1, an indicative terrain is drawn into which the different levels for tunnels are illustrated. In figure 1 there is an inclined tunnel at or slightly above sea level for gravity drainage and 3 additional tunnels at higher elevations each providing sufficient overburden for attenuation of radiation. For the sections storing nuclear materials 200 metres overburden to the outer terrain surface is provided. In figure 1 a ventilation shaft and 2 raise bore storage shafts are illustrated. It is possible to use directional drilling to provide ventilation and / or drainage lines or access for electrical cabling or cooling water. The construction of tunnels and shafts are to reduce the impacts of inconsistencies within the terrain geology and hydrology by tunnel linings and ground stabilisation methods. Utility lines can be installed within the tunnel bores or within directional drilled lines. There are drainage and ventilation lines within these sections and sections can be back filled and sealed for the ingress of water when this is safe to do so, or a spent fuel containment and the plinth can be shrouded to prevent ingress of water. The application of the invention processes and methods for at or above sea level terrain is considered feasible at some locations within the United Kingdom and reviews indicate that the current inventories and range of nuclear material and successor volumes over the next fifty years can be accommodated, subject to local acceptances and permissions and regulatory approvals. The invention processes and methods include for the application of best practices from the decommissioning and new build projects and from the operation of nuclear material processing facilities including, pre-cooling of spent fuel, installation of drained fluid ION iron exchange resin beds and plant to remove and contain specific contaminants and installation of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration plant that can be used with ventilation ducts and ventilation stacks to safeguard communities. The invention includes processes and methods and materials to enable nuclear materials storage to be achieved within the United Kingdom at or above sea level with sufficient overburdens separation spacings for risk attenuation and material / access security that will meet local, environmental, and nuclear regulatory requirements for integrated operations that are safe and do not harm workers, the public, the communities, and habitats. Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement of plinths / platforms onto which boxes or cylinders of spent fuel elements are placed. The plinths are designed to support the weight of a box or cylinder with spent fuel elements. The plinths are positioned at regular distances so that the thermal loading within the tunnel section is acceptable. Over time additional boxes, marked E or cylinders, marked F can be placed between those installed previously which have now cooled sufficiently for a second group to be located in the same tunnel section. The tunnel section has gravity drainage and ventilation flow arrangements. Plinths can be arranged to one side of a tunnel bore or central within the bore and the transport and placing units are designed to work either across and along the tunnel bore or straddle the plinth and its spent fuel containment. Figure 2 illustrates the two separate containment placement processes with P1 for the first plinths supporting the containment and not exceeding the thermal loading and P2 for a later period when the P1 containments have cooled sufficiently for the P2 containments to be installed to increase the effective use of the tunnel section(s). The process enables more spent fuel containments to be placed on the plinths / platforms between each two previously placed spent fuel containments to progressively increase and probably double the stored nuclear material that is stored within the tunnel over the long term, subject to the spent fuel thermal management programme, in the longer term that internal tunnel bore or part of the bore space can be filled with cementitious material or grout to prevent fluid ingress and ventilation can be included where required. The in-tunnel storage configuration incorporates the construction of plinths, or similar platforms spaced along the tunnel bore and located to one side, or centrally along the tunnel with each plinth / platform spaced longitudinally at an agreed distance to provide the thermal management of the spent fuel elements and / or nuclear material in the containment box, cask or canister or similar containment, and placed on the plinth / platform by a machine transporter that can operate, lift, and lower and move within the confines of the tunnel. The storage logistics and in tunnel and in shaft placements will be achieved using bespoke container transporters that can fit within either half a tunnel width or centre of a tunnel for plinth-based spent fuel materials and their containments and / or can operate across a tunnel for bore wide storage. Figure 3 illustrates either arrangement A of 12 storage boxes packed within a tunnel bore or arrangement B of 4 storage boxes packed within the tunnel bore. These arrangements A and B are mainly for intermediate level waste (ILW) and higher activity waste (HAW). There are drainage and ventilation lines within these sections and sections can be back filled and sealed for the ingress of water when this is safe to do so. The invention process and methods will create stable storage spaces to enable the range of nuclear materials to be stored efficiently in single and / or multiple tunnels, for intermediate level waste, vitrified waste, and similar materials so the containers can be packed effectively and progressively in tunnel bore sections whilst leaving spaces for ventilation and drainage. Figure 4 illustrates a method of optimising and increasing the tunnelled alignments within a storage area where parallel tunnels are constructed that enable tunnel machines to be turned where the distance between two drives in and out is less than the horizontal turning diameter of the tunnel boring machine. This enables the inner 300 to 800 metres of raised ground to be used for the installation of tunnels. The tunnel boring machine can rise over and / or go underneath the cross tunnel(s) that connect those tunnels space wider than the horizontal turning diameter of the tunnel boring machine. This method of looping reduces the number of clashes between different tunnels and makes more effective use of the storage footprint. This arrangement enables the density of containments to be increased. The short spoil removal shafts can be located where dotted lines are drawn at C or D in figure 4, or similar positions as in figure 5. The invention includes for the use of wider loops than the horizontal turning diameter of the TBM illustrated in figure 4 to enable the space less wide than the horizontal turning diameter to be tunnelled and the tunnels between one drive and the reverse drive to not clash with those tunnels constructed in the narrow space. Figure 5 illustrates the installation of spoil removal shafts to maintain conveyor lengths to the length one tunnel bore by use of an intersecting short shaft located at the loop curve for spoil excavated to be lowered to a conveyor connecting to the hillside instead of having the spoil travel twice the length of a tunnel bore. The shafts for each of the reverse drive primary tunnels are constructed by raise bore drilling between a cross tunnel above the primary tunnels and a cross tunnel below the primary tunnels as in figure 5. The short spoil removal shafts can be located where dotted lines are drawn at C or D in figure 4 or similar positions as in figure 5. Some construction will include and require the use of raise boring rig units (RBRs), or reverse circulation drilling (ROD) between two or more tunnel levels operated from within the tunnel or side caverns, and / or between the terrain’s upper surface and one, or more of the lower tunnels for spoil handling, or vertical storage of spent fuel boxes or cylinders, and / or ventilation shafts. Directional drilling, pipejacking or spallation methods can be used to create utility service ducts or vents. Some construction may incorporate creating at or above sea level steel lined ventilated and drained shafts for the placement and storage of nuclear material within the lower depths of each shaft with the shaft lined with steel pipe or bolted segments (steel or concrete) and the upper section of each shaft filled with vermiculite or other low-density material. Directional drilling, pipejacking or spallation methods can be used to create utility service ducts or vents.

Claims

1. The invention is the creation of stable underground spaces at or / and above sea level that are able to maximise the volumes, lengths and numbers of tunnels and / or shafts and / or drilled holes within one of more areas of terrain at and above sea level and to condition and mitigate for local variability of the geology, hydrology and other characteristics being tunnelled and or installed with shafts to enable the confidence in safeguarding and security of the infrastructure and / or facilities and / or spaces to be achieved for single or multiple levels, for one or more straight, curved and / or looped tunnels with caverns or no caverns, with or without cross-passages and single or multiple shafts for spoil removal or storage spaces to provide the requirements of the communities, permissions and regulatory processes.

2. The invention can solve the problems of variability of natural geology and mitigate deficiencies by creating specific stable enclosed spaces with gravity drainage and adequate ventilation where fluids can be processed to provide and maintain more stable internal environments within at or above sea level raised terrains according to claim 1.

3. The invention is able to transform raised terrain using tunnel boring machines (TBMs), and / or blasting methods and technologies to create tunnels along specific routes, gradients, of sufficient internal and external dimensions, lengths and arranged in configurations that enable safeguarding methods to be incorporated that overcome the local geological, topographical changes and inconsistencies and characteristics including presence of water flows, pressure and chemistry, gaps, cracks, ledges and faults according to claim 1.

4. The processes use reinforced (fibre, steel) concrete primary lining segments, external and / or internal bore grouting and cementitious materials, sealants and admixtures, thick walled steel pipes, bolted cast, or forged segments to enable the interfaces between the local geology and installed materials and structures to form and maintain manageable barriers in the presence of water and gases using the range of technologies available that can be combined to safeguard and stabilize the internal spaces and structures when combined with the constructed outputs from claim 1 so the space is suitable for the placement and storage of boxes, casks, canisters, flasks and / or bespoke containers that contain the nuclear and associated fabrication materials.

5. The invention includes for the use of wider loops than the horizontal turning diameter of the TBM to enable the space less wide than the horizontal turning diameter to be tunnelled and the tunnels between one drive and the reverse drive to not clash with those tunnels constructed in the narrow space according to claim 1.

6. The processes incorporate techniques using databases, borehole drill core log assessments and geological maps and reports that indicate bedrock types and terrain that is at or above sea level and within low population areas that provides the potential to construct and install tunnels, or tunnels and shafts7. that are at or above sea level and with sufficient overburden height and width for the scale of storage envisaged and provide acceptable separation distances between the different elevation levels and alignments of the tunnels and the ability for the construction machines, equipment, plant to be launched, operated, and extracted from worksites according to claim 1.

8. Some construction will include and require the use of raise boring rig units (RBRs), or reverse circulation drilling (RCD) between two or more tunnel levels operated from within the tunnel or side caverns, and / or between the terrain’s upper surface and one, or more of the lower tunnels for spoil handling, or vertical storage of spent fuel boxes or cylinders, and / or ventilation according to claim 1, directional drilling, pipejacking or spallation methods can be used to create utility service ducts or vents.

9. Some construction may incorporate creating at or above sea level steel lined ventilated and drained shafts for the placement and storage of nuclear material within the lower depths of each shaft with the shaft lined with steel pipe or bolted segments (steel or concrete) and the upper section of each shaft filled with vermiculite or other low-density material according to claim 1, directional drilling, pipejacking or spallation methods can be used to create utility service ducts or vents.

10. The in-tunnel storage configuration incorporates the construction of plinths, or similar platforms spaced along the tunnel bore and located to one side, or centrally along the tunnel with each plinth / platform spaced longitudinally at an agreed distance to provide the thermal management of the spent fuel elements and / or nuclear material in the containment box, cask or canister or similar containment, and placed on the plinth / platform by a machine transporter that can operate, lift and lower and move within the confines of the tunnel according to claim 1.

11. The process enables more spent fuel containments to be placed on the plinths / platforms between each two previously placed spent fuel containments to progressively increase and probably double the stored nuclear material that is stored within the tunnel over the long term, subject to the spent fuel thermal management programme, in the longer term that internal tunnel bore or part of the bore space can be filled with cementitious material or grout to prevent fluid ingress and ventilation can be included where required according to claim 8.

12. The invention process and methods will create stable storage spaces to enable the range of nuclear materials to be stored efficiently in single and / or multiple tunnels, for intermediate level waste, vitrified waste, and similar materials so the containers can be packed effectively and progressively in tunnel bore sections whilst leaving spaces for ventilation and drainage according to claim 1.

13. The storage logistics and in tunnel and in shaft placements will be achieved using bespoke container transporters that can fit within either half a tunnelwidth or centre of a tunnel for plinth-based spent fuel materials and their containments and / or can operate across a tunnel for bore wide storage according to claims 9 and 10.

14. This invention processes and methods for creating safeguarded underground spaces for nuclear material storage will provide the safeguarding and security to meet regulatory requirements by enabling some raised terrain locations to be adapted for nuclear material storage, by adding mitigation measures and facilities to the locations to overcome and mitigate known issues, as dual lining of tunnels with both reinforced concrete primary linings, external ground stabilisation treatments and inclusion of a water tight secondary lining according to claim 1.

15. The invention processes will make use of a range of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping methods, geological and hydrological data bases and commercial maps where elevations and sections and route alignments can be assessed and superimposed to provide information for designers and contractors according to claim 5.

16. The application of the invention processes and methods for at or above sea level terrain is considered feasible at some locations within the United Kingdom and reviews indicate that the current inventories and range of nuclear material and successor volumes over the next fifty years can be accommodated, subject to local acceptances and permissions and regulatory approvals according to claim 1.

17. The invention processes and methods include for the application of best practices from the decommissioning and new build projects and from the operation of nuclear material processing facilities including, pre-cooling of spent fuel, installation of drained fluid ION iron exchange resin beds and plant to remove and contain specific contaminants and installation of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration plant that can be used with ventilation ducts and ventilation stacks to safeguard communities according to claim 14.

18. The invention includes processes and methods and materials to enable nuclear materials storage to be achieved within the United Kingdom at or above sea level with sufficient overburdens separation spacings for risk attenuation and material / access security that will meet local, environmental, and nuclear regulatory requirements for integrated operations that are safe and do not harm workers, the public, the communities, and habitats according to claim 1.Application No: GB2214905.8Claims searched: 1Examiner: George TalbotDate of search: 12 September 2023Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1 CN 208533455 U (TONGJI UNIVERSITY) See paragraph [0008], An underground space that is higher than sea level and has at least one tunnel 3,4 and at least one shaft 1,2. X 1 CN 108412500 A (CHINA RAILWAY ERYAN ENGINEERING GROUP) An underground space in a mountainous region having at least one tunnel 12,13 and at least one shaft 20 v A 1 CN 210105873 U (SICHUAN JINGSHUN GREATWALL ELECTRIC POWER ENGINEERING DESIGN) See Figure 1. An underground space at high altitude having at least one tunnel 20 and at least one shaft 60. X 1 US 2021 / 005338 Al (C RI CH LOW) See paragraph [0124], An underground space for the disposal of nuclear fuel waste, the underground space having at least one tunnel 11,14 and at least one shaft 10. X 1 JP 2005331313 A (KAJIMA CORP) See paragraph [0024], An underground facility 1 for the disposal of radioactive waste having at least one tunnel 3 and at least one shaft 2 X 1 JP 2002196098 A (SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION) See paragraph [0006], An underground disposal facility 11 having at least one tunnel 15, 16 and at least one shaft 13,14,17-19 A - Geological Disposal in Tuff: Yucca Mountain, Swift &Bonano, https: / / www.osti.gov / servlets / purl / 14977666, September 2015 See page 3 in particular. An example proposed nuclear waste repository located above sea levelCategories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:International Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From E21D 0013 / 00 01 / 01 / 2006 E21D 0009 / 14 01 / 01 / 2006 G21F 0009 / 34 01 / 01 / 2006

Images