Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

9 – Nuclear operating resources in the repositoryIn the second stage, the air cushion transporter, acting in a step-by-step mode, transfers the disposalpackage to its final position in the cell.Finally in the last stage, the air cushion transporter is brought back into the transfer cask using thereturn winch situated on the transfer cask outside frame.The time needed to complete an entire cycle (See Figure Figure 9.3.20 of putting a package in placeover a distance of about 20 metres is estimated to be 3 hours.The failure recovery system envisaged is similar to the one that would be used for C packages(cf. § 9.3.3).Figure 9.3.20Transfer of the package into the cell9.3.4.4 Demonstration of the validity of the principle chosen by a workshop testThe principles described above for putting type CU1 packages of spent fuels into the cell (transfer byair cushion transporter) are the subject of full-scale validation tests as part of the ESDRED Europeanproject coordinated by Andra. Since the principle of transferring the CU2 package is similar to that ofthe C vitrified waste packages, the demonstration of its validity is conducted at the same time as thatof the C packages described in section 9.2.• Validation test on the transfer of CU1 type packages by air cushion transporterThe first part of the test consists of validating the "air cushion" principle. To do this a prototypestructure bearing air cushions was manufactured (See Figure 9.3.21). A load simulating the weight ofthe package was then placed on a steel sheet of full-scale diameter (1255 mm). The whole was thensuspended by the air cushions and moved over a distance of about 1 metre. This test showed that theair cushions worked correctly and confirmed the slight effort needed to move the load sideways bypushing. Figure 9.3.22 illustrates this test.DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM362/495