EURAD-2 Webinar | Domain Insight 3.2.2, on LL-ILW containers

Abstract

Low and intermediate level waste (LL&ILW) represent the main part of the volume of radioactive waste which are produced by nuclear industry. This waste contains a large variety of materials such as paper, cardboard, plastics and metals with. The waste can also vary strongly in size and weight. Therefore, there is a need of various containers designs in order to condition the LL&ILW considering their physical and chemical properties. The main safety functions of a radioactive waste repository for Low Level and Intermediate Level Waste (LL-ILW) are the isolation, the containment and the shielding of the waste. Other safety functions can also be considered, such as the retardation of the radionuclide transport and maintaining stable conditions in the repository. The fulfillment of these safety functions relies amongst other on the Engineered Barrier System (EBS). During all the phases of the disposal programme, from its initiation to the closure of the disposal facility, safety assessments are performed and requirements are defined and updated in order to guarantee the safe management of the radioactive waste (during the operational and post-closure phases of the facility). The requirements for the design of LL-ILW containers are related to those for the disposal facility. The container requirements shall take into account the surrounding Systems Structures and Components (SSC’s), as well as the external and internal potential perturbations (e.g. physico-chemical reactions) which could affect them. Depending on the concept of the repository and the defined safety functions and objectives, various materials such as concrete or steel can be used for manufacturing LL-ILW containers fulfilling the requirements. Such materials are currently used for the containers in various near surface LL-ILW disposal facilities currently in operation in countries such as France (CSA, Aube), the UK (LLWR, West Cumbria) and Spain (El Cabril, Cordoba). It shall be noted that LL-ILW can also be disposed in deep geological repository (e.g. Switzerland)

EURAD-2 – Domain Insight 3.2.2 – LL-ILW containers | Eurad

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this webinar, participants should be able to:

• Understand LL-ILW waste and container design
• Explain the role of containers in:
  • achieving operational & long-term safety of the disposal system
  • achieving interim storage safety and feasible implementation of disposal
• Provide international examples of LL-ILW containers
• Describe the lifecycle & implementation phases
• Discuss challenges & innovations in container design

Speaker

Radouane Sghir (Bel V)

Practical information

An MS Teams link will be shared with all registrants a few days before the webinar.