Underground Insulation Research Articles

Analytical and numerical modeling for the effects of thermal insulation in underground tunnels

The heat flow generated from the infinite rock mass surrounding the underground tunnels is a major cause for the increasing cooling demands in deep mine tunnels. Insulation layers with lower thermal conductivities on tunnel walls and roof ceilings are believed to supply a thermo-barrier for heat abatement. However, it is found that no systematic theoretical investigations were made to predict and confirm the effectiveness of underground thermal insulation. Specifically, investigations on the underground insulation problems involving heat flows through the semi-infinite hot rock mass and insulation layer were not sufficient. Thus, in this paper, the thermal characteristics, accompanied with heat flow through the semi-infinite rock mass and the insulation layer, were modeled by both analytical and numerical methods with focus on underground mine tunnels. The close agreements between models have indicated that the thermal insulation applied on tunnel surfaces is able to provide promising heat abatement effects.

Thermal characterisation of a lightweight mortar containing expanded perlite for underground insulation

This paper aims to investigate the use of expanded perlite in mortar, for further application of shotcrete to thermal insulation of underground mines. Mixes were designed according to the typical proportions of underground shotcrete, with the sand volumetrically substituted by expanded perlite. Tests of samples were conducted at four ages. Transient plane source technique was utilised to measure the thermal properties. The results showed reduced weight, decreased thermal conductivity, deteriorated thermal diffusivity, and sacrificed mechanical strength with perlite addition. Experimental data analysis and explanation in this paper would establish useful fundamentals for further application of expanded perlite to underground shotcrete.

Behavior of uranium under conditions of interaction of rocks and ores with subsurface water

The behavior of uranium during interaction of subsurface water with crystalline rocks and uranium ores is considered in connection with the problem of safe underground insulation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Since subsurface water interacts with crystalline rocks formed at a high temperature, the mineral composition of these rocks and uranium species therein are thermodynamically unstable. Therefore, reactions directed toward the establishment of equilibrium proceed in the water-rock system. At great depths that are characterized by hindered water exchange, where subsurface water acquires near-neutral and reducing properties, the interaction is extremely sluggish and is expressed in the formation of micro- and nanoparticles of secondary minerals. Under such conditions, the slow diffusion redistribution of uranium with enrichment in absorbed forms relative to all other uranium species is realized as well. The products of secondary alteration of Fe- and Ti-bearing minerals serve as the main sorbents of uranium. The rate of alteration of minerals and conversion of uranium species into absorbed forms is slow, and the results of these processes are insignificant, so that the rocks and uranium species therein may be regarded as unaltered. Under reducing conditions, subsurface water is always saturated with uranium. Whether water interacts with rock or uranium ore, the equilibrium uranium concentration in water is only ≤10−8 mol/l. Uraninite ore under such conditions always remains stable irrespective of its age. The stability conditions of uranium ore are quite suitable for safe insulation of SNF, which consists of 95% uraninite (UO2) and is a confinement matrix for all other radionuclides. The disposal of SNF in massifs of crystalline rocks at depths below 500 m, where reducing conditions are predominant, is a reliable guarantee of high SNF stability. Under oxidizing conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone, the rate of interaction of rocks with subsurface water increases by orders of magnitude and subsurface water is commonly undersaturated with uranium. Uranium absorbed by secondary minerals, particularly by iron hydroxides and leucoxene, is its single stable species under oxidizing conditions. The impact of oxygen-bearing water leads to destruction of uranium ore. This process is realized simultaneously at different hypsometric levels even if the permeability of the medium is variable in both the lateral and vertical directions. As a result, intervals containing uranyl minerals and relics of primary uranium ore are combined in ore-bearing zones with intervals of completely dissolved uranium minerals. A wide halo of elevated uranium contents caused by sorption is always retained at the location of uranium ore entirely destroyed by weathering. Uranium ore commonly finds itself in the aeration zone due to technogenic subsidence of the groundwater table caused by open-pit mining or pumping out of water from underground mines. The capillary and film waters that interact with rocks and ores in this zone are supplemented by free water filtering along fractures when rain falls or snow is thawing. The interaction of uranium ore with capillary water results in oxidation of uraninite, accompanied by loosening of the mineral surface, formation of microfractures, and an increase in solubility with enrichment of capillary water in uranium up to 10−4 mol/l. Secondary U(VI) minerals, first of all, uranyl hydroxides and silicates, replace uraninite, and uranium undergoes local diffusion redistribution with its sorption by secondary minerals of host rocks. The influx of free water facilitates the complete dissolution of primary and secondary uranium minerals, the removal of uranium at the sites of groundwater discharge, and its redeposition under reducing conditions at a greater depth. It is evident that the conditions of the upper hydrodynamic zone and the aeration zone are unfit for long-term insulation of SNF and high-level wastes because, after the failure of containers, the leakage of radionuclides into the environment becomes inevitable.

Characteristics and annealing behavior of polyethylenes designed for use as underground insulation

AbstractA series of polyethylenes developed for use as high voltage electric cable insulation have been studied. All crosslinked polyethylene materials show similar thermal aging characteristics, whereas linear low‐density polyethylene is susceptible to thermal aging at higher annealing temperatues. Tree‐retardant additives are soluble in xylene, but some are also attached to the gel network. They function both as enhanced antioxidants and as enhancers of electric breakdown strength. Biaxially oriented film shows the greatest resistance to electric breakdown.