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Role of

demonstration

activities in the field

of geological

disposal

Monica Hammarström SKB

1

SVENSK KÄRNBRÄNSLEHANTERING

• History

• Examples of demonstration projects supported by the EC

• The ESDRED project, February 2004 to January 2009

• The LucoeX project, May 2011 to September 2015

• Conclusions

2

Content


• It started already in the early 80´s in the

Stripa project

• The objectives were to develop techniques

to characterize crystalline rock

• Tools and techniques to quantify hydro-

geological characteristics, characteristics

and behaviour of clay material were

developed and methods for identifying

fractures were demonstrated

• Field-scale demonstration of shaft and

tunnel sealing and borehole plugging

were performed

3

History


4

History

• SKB proposed in the RD&D

Programme 86 that a new underground

laboratory should be built in an

undisturbed environment

• The objectives were to

• Development of methods and

models

• In-situ experiments

• Demonstration of system and

techniques


5

ESDRED: Engineering Studies and

Demonstrations of Repository Designs

The FIRST objective was to demonstrate, at an industrial scale, the technical

feasibility of some very specific activities related to the construction,

operation and closure of a deep geological repository for high level

radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

1: Buffer Construction Technologies for Horizontal Disposal Concepts

2 : Transfer and Emplacement of Waste Canisters

3: Heavy load emplacement technology

4: Temporary Sealing using low pH cement Technology

The SECOND objective was to promote a shared European vision in the field

of radioactive waste disposal technology.

The THIRD objective focused on training and communication.


6

ESDRED – Module 1


7

ANDRA and NAGRA activities in Module 1

Mould for pressing of buffer rings Assembly of buffer rings

Emplacement of bentonite granulate Experimental setup of auger system


8

DBE, ANDRA and NRG activities in Module 2

Layout of ANDRA deposition tunnels for

vitrified waste and the pushing robot

developed in the ESDRED project

DBE emplacement of

canisters in deep holes


9

ANDRA in Module 2 - Test of pushing robot

General View of the Horizontal Emplacement Demonstrator as set in St-Chamond


10

SKB in Module 3 – The KBS-3H system

Development of the KBS-3H system and

equipment from sketches to prototype

equipment.


11

ANDRA in Module 3

Test rig for demonstration of emplacement of canister with spent fuel


12

Module 4, ENRESA, NAGRA and SKB

1,85 m

3,50 m

Shotcrete

plug Plug flow EDZ flow

Water chamber

EDZ observation slot

Impermeable layer

Reinforced dam

Leaks pump

High pressure doped water

Shotcrete tests at Äspö HRL in Sweden and Hagerbach Test Facility in Switzerland

Construction of a low-pH

concrete plug at KBS-3H

deposition tunnel at Äspö

HRL. Done by ENRESA.


13

LUCOEX - Large Underground Concept

Experiments

LUCOEX contained the following Modules or Waste Packages:

1. Horizontal disposal of waste packages in Opalinus clay formation

(NAGRA)

1. Horizontal disposal of waste packages in Callovo-Oxfordian clay

formation (Andra)

1. Horizontal disposal of waste packages in crystalline rock (SKB)

1. Vertical disposal of waste packages in crystalline rock (Posiva)


14

NAGRA Full scale experiment at Mont Terri

Layout of the drift for the full scale experiment at Mont Terri

Photos of preparation of canister pedestal, canister and the auger system


15

Horizontal disposal of waste packages

in Callovo-Oxfordian clay formation

ANDRA - Schematic diagram of a HLW cell according to the French concept

2009

The HLW cell is a micro-tunnel

which is approximately 40 m long

and 0.7 m in diameter..

Photo of the heater element used


16

SKB Multi purpose test (MPT)

Distance and transition blocks for the MPT

Transport of distance and transition

blocks from assembly hall to deposition

tunnel


17

Posiva –Deposition of buffer and waste

packages in crystalline hard rock

1. Buffer Installation

Machine (BIM)

2. Buffer block

transfer vehicle

3. Bentonite container

for transportation

and handling of

blocks and pellet.

4. General overview

of deposition

tunnel.

1

2

3

4


Posiva – Buffer Installation Machine (BIM)

Lowering of buffer

blocks into the

deposition hole with a

vacuum lifting tool.

Photo of the BIM in the test hall. The machine

is moved with help of a truck.

18


19

POSIVA Testing above ground in test hall

The buffer block at the bottom of the hole and the releasing of pellets into the

gap between buffer and test hole wall.


20

Photo of the Buffer

Installation Machine

in ONKALO

demonstration

tunnel 1.


Despite different conditions and requirements for the various repositories planned, there are many common issues and also experiences that can be shared between organizations. Development of equipment and systems is normally very time consuming and costly. Sharing experiences in joint projects give us opportunities to find good solutions and to achieve acceptance both on a national and international level. There is a big difference to carry out tests with prototypes compared to working with the entire system of equipment at industrial scale.

The environment in the repository are typically also much more difficult than in test environments.

Demonstration at industrial scale is and will be important in order to meet the requirements set by the licensing authorities.

21

Conclusions


22

Problems during tests with buffer material

The environment and humidity must be controlled to avoid damage

to the buffer block.


23

Many different problems to be considered

Corrosion problem: Photo of camera unit

with two power LED’s for lighting and a

camera in the middle. (KBS-3H deposition

machine).

Components failures.


’

24

Thank you!

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