PROJECT RESULTS / Annual Technical Results
Year 3 : ESDRED TECHNICAL RESULTS to January 2007
Module 2: Waste canister Transfer and Emplacement Technology for Horizontal and Vertical Disposal Concepts
Summary :
During the third year of the Project the Basic Design was
completed and the Detailed Design for the components of the entire emplacement
system was launched, for the vertical (German) emplacement concept.
In summer 2006 a general critical review of the repository concept in argillite
led to a temporary interruption of all design activities for the horizontal
(French) concept. According to the new scheduling, the industrial demonstrator
will be available at the end of 2008.
The retrievability desk study investigations were completed by NRG for both
the vertical and the horizontal case studies. The final report will be available
in spring 2007 (Year 4).
Work completed :
- 3. Basic design for both emplacement technologies
o 3.1. For DBE Technology - Basic design for the vertical emplacement concept
- Emplacement device for acceptance of a transfer cask (filled
with one BSK3 canister), handling and unloading the transfer cask, lowering
the BSK3 canister down into the vertical borehole through the borehole lock
- Transfer cask for transporting a single BSK3 canister from
surface to underground at the emplacement location
- Transport cart for rail-bound transporting the transfer cask
underground to the emplacement borehole
- Borehole lock for the safe and reliable locking of a borehole
during the emplacement campaign
- Layout of the surface test stand to demonstrate and test
the reliability and functionality of the vertical emplacement components
- 3.2. For ANDRA - Basic design for the horizontal emplacement concept –
- Writing of the tender documents concerning the design and the fabrication of the horizontal emplacement system.
- Conceptual Layout of the surface test stand to demonstrate
and test the reliability and functionality of the horizontal emplacement
components
4. Detailed design for vertical emplacement technology
• 4.1. For DBE TECHNOLOGY- Detailed design for the vertical
emplacement concept
- The tender process for each of the four components (emplacement device,
transfer cask, transport cart, borehole lock) was successfully completed and
contractors selected for performing detailed design and manufacturing.
- Contract negotiations with E-ON were completed in view of using a former
turbine hall in the power station close to the city of Nienburg in the village
Landesbergen for setting up a test bench.
Ongoing work :
- Detailed design for the vertical emplacement concept,
- Manufacturing of components for the vertical emplacement concept
- Detailed design for the horizontal emplacement concept,
- Desk study on retrievability - view document
Important Events Planned for 2007 :
- Tendering process for test bench erection
- Erection of test bench for the vertical emplacement concept
- Tendering process to be completed for the horizontal concept industrial demonstrator and selection of contractor. Implementation of studies
- Issue of the desk study final report on retrievability