Architecture and management of a geological repository - Andra

3 – High Level Long-Lived WasteFigure 3.2.5Non-alloy steel container used as overdrum for 1000-litre concrete containersA second subset of packages, from the COGEMA La Hague site, contains technological or pulverulentwaste consisting of a mixture of resins, zeolites, diatoms and graphite, conditioned in a cement matrixinside cylindrical fibre-reinforced concrete containers, known as CBF-C’2 (see Figure 3.2.6). It shouldbe noted that technological waste was conditioned between 1990 and 1994 in asbestos-cementcontainers, which were replaced from 1994 onwards by fibre-reinforced concrete containers. Bothtypes of container have the same geometry. The weight of the finished containers varies from 1.5 to3 metric tons, with an average of around 2.4 metric tons. The technological waste is made up of metalor organic materials. The equivalent ß-γ dose rate in pseudo-contact (5 cm) with the packages isaround 0.5 Sv/h, for the packages releasing the most radiation. For these packages, production ofhydrogen by radiolysis of the organic matter and cement matrix water is taken into account; thisproduction is from 1 to 2 litres 23 a year.Figure 3.2.6Cylindrical fibre-reinforced concrete container (CBF-C’2)A third subset of packages, manufactured by the CEA, consists of 1800-litre concrete containers filledwith various metallic and organic waste conditioned in a cement-bitumen matrix or in mortar. All ofthese packages were produced between 1964 and 1987: 25% of the concrete containers have beenrepaired (resurfacing) and following degradation 75% have been installed in non-alloy steel containers(see Figure 3.2.7). These packages are also very large.23At atmospheric pressureDOSSIER 2005 ARGILE -ARCHITECTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGICAL DISPOSAL SYSTEM81/495