PROJECT RESULTS / Annual Technical Results
Year 4 : ESDRED TECHNICAL RESULTS to January 2008
Module 2: Waste canister Transfer and Emplacement Technology for Horizontal and Vertical Disposal Concepts
Summary :
For the vertical concept (German) the detailed design for all components was accomplished, while the fabrication of the components and the preparation of the test stand were launched in Year 4. Specialised companies were selected and contracts for the fabrication work were awarded. The construction work at the test site (a former turbine hall of a power station in the village of Landesbergen, Federal State of Lower-Saxony) was launched. The Figures 1 to 5 display the status of the component manufacturing, whereas Figure 6 provides a view of the steel platform erected at the test site.
Following a one year delay with regard to the original planning (due to corporate strategy and not to ESDRED team inefficiency), ANDRA carried out a purchasing process, selected the appropriate Contractor to design, fabricate and test the full scale industrial demonstrator for the horizontal concept. In the course of a “Competitive Dialogue” the CEGELEC Company, based in Grenoble, acting as an industrial integrator, was chosen. The main components were designed and the most critical long lead items were also ordered. Figure 7 displays the general layout of the industrial demonstrator for the horizontal emplacement concept.
After completing the second case study, i.e. investigating the possibilities of retrieving BSK3 canisters in the German vertical borehole concept, the final deliverable (Mod2-WP4-D4) for Work Package 4 "Retrievability Desk Study" was finalised and issued in May 2007.
Figure 1: DBE TEC – Completely manufactured new transport cart
Figure 2: DBE TEC - Borehole lock in the manufacturing workshop
Figure 3: DBE TEC - Emplacement device in the manufacturing workshop
Figure 4: DBE TEC – Transfer cask in the manufacturing workshop
Figure 5: DBE TEC - Schematic view of the BSK 3-Emplacement test facility
Figure 6: DBE TEC - View onto the test platform at the test site in Landesbergen
Ongoing work:
- Manufacturing of the last components for the vertical emplacement concept,
- Detailed design for the industrial demonstrator of the horizontal emplacement concept and manufacturing of the various components of the Demonstrator, c/w preparation of the test site facilities. Figures 8 & 9 show the factory commissioning of the shuttle and the electric winch.
Figure 7: Andra - general layout of the industrial demonstrator for the horizontal emplacement concept
Figure 8: ANDRA - View of the shuttle at the manufacturer's site
Figure 9: - View of the electrical winch at the manufacturer's site
Important Events Planned for 2008:
- Completion of test bench construction and component manufacturing for both the vertical and horizontal emplacement concepts,
- Accomplishing the manufacturing of the horizontal concept industrial demonstrator,
- Start and performance of complete test programmes for both industrial demonstrators,
- International workshop on emplacement technologies to be held at DBE TEC premises in November 2008
- Final Module #2 report (end of Year 2008).