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Fusion Science and Technology
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WIPP: Lessons in transportation safety
As part of a future consent-based approach by the federal government to site new deep geologic repositories for nuclear waste, local communities and states that are considering hosting such facilities are sure to have many questions. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the only example of such a repository in operation, and it offers the opportunity for state and local officials to visit and judge for themselves the risks and benefits of hosting a similar facility. But its history can also provide lessons for these officials, particularly the political process leading up to the opening of WIPP, the safety of WIPP operations and transportation of waste from generator facilities to the site, and the economic impacts the project has had on the local area of Carlsbad, as well as the rest of the state of New Mexico.
T. Burgess, R. Haange, Y. Hattori, F. Heckendorn, F. Ozaki, K. Shibanuma, A. Tesini, G. Janeschitz, E. Martin, M. Sironi, J. Herndon, D. Maisonnier, E. Tada
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | November 1998 | Pages 1144-1150
Remote Maintenance Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST98-A11963767
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
ITER in-vessel components must be remotely handled and maintained due to their neutron activation. Components requiring regularly scheduled maintenance include the blanket shield modules, divertor cassettes and the various ancillary systems mounted in the vacuum vessel (VV) ports. Maintenance is predominantly performed by removing the component from the VV and transferring it to the hot cell facility where it is repaired or processed as waste. Component transfer, as well as remote handling (RH) equipment deployment, is performed with sealed transfer casks that are capable of connecting to the VV ports and hot cell while maintaining containment. An overview of the in-vessel remote maintenance requirements, techniques and equipment is presented.