Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

2 – General DescriptionFigure 2.4.4B waste disposal cell in operationThe repository chamber forms an irradiating volume in which packages are handled by remotelyoperated equipment described in chapter 9. The head of the cells is equipped with a radiologicalprotection chamber enabling the disposal packages to be extracted from the shielded transfer casks andprotecting the operators liable to be present in the access drift.When the cell is closed, it does not appear to be necessary to fill in the gaps between packages in therepository chamber, which facilitates the closure operations and the possible future retrieval of thewaste packages. Owing to the emplacement and retrieval techniques used, these gaps are limited tojust 5% of the volume of the chamber. On the other hand, the volume occupied by the radiologicalprotection chamber is filled in and the access drift is sealed with a swelling clay plug. Each B wastecell constitutes, in the long term, a module isolated from the others.DOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM60/495