Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

4 – Waste disposal PackagesFigure 4.2.11Welding enclosure under vacuum conditions© TWI Ltd – Cambridge - UKFigure 4.2.12Electron beam welding procedure diagramFor welding process control, important parameters can be recorded during the operation. Oncewelding has been completed, the welds are then tested, with the disposal package placed in anothershielded cell.An appropriate weld surface test procedure, routinely used by manufacturers, consists of visualinspection with video camera. Other procedures can be considered, namely liquid penetrant testing andmagnetic particle testing, but they are more difficult to apply in an irradiating cell.A tried and tested volumetric examination procedure is based on use of ultrasound.It is worth mentioning that electron beam welding and weld testing resources were used to make thedemonstrators for spent fuel disposal packages, with the same grade of steel as that envisaged for Cwaste repository containers (see section 4.3).DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM143/495