DEVELOPMENT OF A LARGE WASTE TRANSPORT CONTAINER (LWTC) FOR DISPOSAL OF LEGACY ILW TO A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL FACILITY IN THE UK

As a subsidiary of the UK’s NDA, INS supports RWMD’s (Radioactive Waste Management Directorate) strategic objectives by reviewing technical aspects of its transport strategy and in the provision of engineering services relating to RAM transport packaging designs. Engineering support initially involved a design review of RWMD’s Standard Waste Transport Container (SWTC-285) packaging, which subsequently led to conceptual studies into a similar purpose, but dimensionally larger and heavier transport package design. This research culminated in the development of the Large Waste Transport Container (LWTC) for rail transport on an 8 axle rail wagon with gross mass of 180 tonnes. Central to the LWTC’s design philosophy are its cuboid form and the large loading aperture which are respectively driven by payload geometry and operational requirements. This geometry and the high volume / mass of the design presented a number of technical challenges, particularly in respect of manufacturing and in satisfying the requirements of TS-R-1 when compared to conventional packages, which benefit from their typically cylindrical form and minimal containment openings. In conjunction with a business case, which investigated the economic advantages for such a large capacity package, the project presented a number of critical technical risks that needed to be mitigated to assess the feasibility of this design. These include: ? Compliance with IAEA TS-R-1 Type B(U)F Accident Conditions of Transport (e.g. impact/thermal/shielding) requirements ? Operability at a Geological Disposal Facility in the UK ? Operability at the Sellafield Site ? Compatibility with RWMD waste packages for legacy Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) ? Manufactured using proven technologies ? Compatibility with UK rail network restrictions This paper concentrates on the mitigation of these technical risks, specifically in terms of the LWTC external dimensions, shielding provision, manufacturing route and structural performance during Accident Conditions of Transport (ACT).