Conceptual Design Studies of Waste Handling and Immobilization Facilities for Canada's Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program

Abstract

This paper describes the conceptual designs of five nuclear waste handling and mobilization facilities developed by W. L. Wardrop & Associates Ltd. for Atomic Energy of Canada Limited as part of Canada's nuclear fuel waste management program. The five facilities are: surface facilities for a commercial Fuel Disposal Centre; surface facilities for a commercial Immobilized Waste Disposal Centre, a Fuel Immobilization Demonstration Plant; surface facilities for the demonstration vault; and a Radioactive Waste immobilization Pilot Plant. The significant components of each facility are described, the major operations performed by the facilities are summarized, and the personnel requirements are given. The unit costs of the commercial-scale facilities are estimated.