RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

The canister development work will continue even after the application for the encapsulation
plant has been submitted. When SR-Site is prepared prior to the application for the deep
repository, newfound knowledge concerning encapsulation will be taken into account. For this
application, SKB intends to show that they also have full control over serial canister production,
i.e. the work operations performed outside the encapsulation plant. This includes the entire
fabrication chain, including associated nondestructive testing (NDT). At this time, it is essential
that a reasonable number of canisters have been fabricated, where the only component lacking is
the fuel.
A3.5 Qualification
Qualification involves investigating that a fabrication or inspection procedure satisfies stipulated
requirements. The quality systems developed by SKB contain qualification requirements
on both processes and suppliers of canister components, see Chapter 7. SKB has concluded
from studies that the regulations that apply to qualification for fabrication, installation, repair
and in-service inspection according to SKIFS 2000:2 are not applicable to the canister. This
has also been confirmed by SKI. Nor are the inspection procedure, accredited laboratory,
accredited inspection body and approved qualification body that apply to the nuclear power
sector currently applicable to the canister. One of the reasons for this is that qualification must
apply to the canister’s integrity over such a long period of time. The qualification procedure
that applies to fabrication, installation and repair does not take this into consideration. Nor will
in-service inspection be of relevance for the canister. For SKB, this means that a qualification
method, qualification procedure and inspection procedure must be devised and presented to the
regulatory authority.
Qualification of the production process covers the different sub-processes fabrication, welding
and NDT. SKB will probably be able to carry out certain qualifications in accordance with the
quality system’s current requirements, while some will be subject to future regulatory requirements.
An important part of the work during the next few years will thus be to clarify this.
It should be emphasized that the extensive work being pursued by SKB in research and
technical development goes hand in hand with the qualification work. To a great extent, the
qualification work involves structuring and compiling existing and new information in a logical
fashion.
An important milestone for the qualification work will be passed when SKB applies for a permit
for the encapsulation plant. At this point the work will be focused on determining preliminary
detection goals, demonstrating the reliability of NDT of the sealing weld, and studying via the
SR-Can safety assessment the effects on total safety in the deep repository. SKB will also take a
coordinated approach to underlying technical documentation that is of relevance for the requirements
on NDT. The principles of technical documentation of the encapsulation and fabrication
process will be explained. This work is part of a long-range plan for qualification that is gradually
being devised in dialogue with SKI and that will be appended to the application.
A4
Deep disposal
A4.1 Overview
Time horizon 2023
Figure 9 shows the implementation plan for the deep repository project that is guiding SKB’s
work. The figure also shows the key components of the technology development being pursued
in parallel, as well as the most important large-scale tests at the Äspö HRL, with links to the
implementation plan.
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