Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

4 – Waste disposal PackagesFor the sake of standardisation, the outer diameter of the variant for bare assemblies (squareemplacements) is identical to that of the other variant. Square emplacements have thus been distancedfrom each other, which favors package safety-criticality.Intermediate closure plugThe closure plug is composed of a disk 10 mm thick (made of the same grade of steel as the shell)placed on the top of the insert and welded directly onto the inner part of the steel shell (above theinsert emplacements). It restricts the void volume created during electron beam welding operations 51 .It is worth mentioning that it also limits risks of contamination of surface installations and particularlythe welding unit when the container is definitively closed.The lidThe lid with details illustrated in Figure 4.3.5 is made of the same grade of steel as the envelope, withtotal thickness of about 280 mm. This thickness includes resistance to corrosion, formation of a rootface required for electron beam welding and a handling interface comparable to that of the C wastepackage lid, but with dimensions adapted to package mass.Figure 4.3.5Detail of container and lid (container with cladding)• Small diameter disposal package (1 single assembly)This package with a standard over all diameter of 620 mm, with length varying between 4500 and5400 mm and weight between 8 to 10 metric tons according to the configuration (short or longassembly, bare or clad) is composed of the same parts: a body (without insert) with a lid and closureplug.This package has a similar diameter to vitrified waste disposal packages but it is about three timeslonger and four times heavier. Concerning its diameter, the process envisaged for placing it in thedisposal cell is the same as that adopted for C packages (sliding onto the cell sleeve by pushing anduse of ceramic sliding runners).51No vacuum is set up for the assemblies as it would adversely affect heat removal.DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM149/495