GLOSSARY
500L drum
Unshielded cylindrical waste package which has a volume of 500L.
Normally contains ILW.
3m3 drum
Unshielded cylindrical waste package which has a volume of 3m3.
Normally contains immobilised radioactive ILW sludge.
3m3 box
Unshielded waste package which has a volume of 3m3. Normally
contains solid radioactive ILW waste.
3D Mapping A Non Destructive Testing method which emits waves and receives the
reflected waves. Such method could detect surface cracks and
dimensions of an object
Backfilling
Filling the PGRC with concrete. This is envisaged to occur at the end
of the 300 year monitoring period.
Concrete
A cementitious based composite which consists of cement, water,
coarse aggregate and fine aggregate.
Cold
An environment that contains levels of radiation that are suitable for
humans to work in.
Container
An empty stainless steel package which has no grout or any waste
forms in it.
Direct
Viewing
Workers visually inspecting a package with the naked eye. Primarily
through an oil filled shielded window which provides protection from
radiation.
DPI
Dye Penetrant Inspection method is a Non Destructive Testing method.
By allowing dye to seep into cracks, and cleaning the surface, one
could identify the presence of a crack easily.
GPR
Ground Penetrating Radar is a Non Destructive Testing method. By
transmitting radio wave and receiving it, one could determine the
attenuation of concrete. It is being used to monitor the curing of
concrete structures.
Grab
Three armed lifting crane to lift/move a 500L drum.
Grout
A cementitious based composite used to immobilise waste. It mainly
consists of cement, water and fine aggregate. This will be used in the
Overpacking procedure.
Hot
An environment that contains levels of radiation that are too high for
humans to work in.
Harwell
Current (February 2007) home of Nirex, UK where ILW stored just
below surface’ is being removed, inspected, and stored. This waste will
be transferred to the PGRC when built.
Indirect
Viewing
Visual inspection of a package using indirect means such as cameras.
ILW
Intermediate Level (Radioactive) Waste
Master/Slave Tools currently used to inspect and rework waste drums that are being
Manipulator extracted from ‘just below surface’ storage at Harwell.
Oil filled
shielded
window
Allows direct viewing into hot areas of the Inspection and
Overpacking Cells whilst providing protection from the dangerously
high levels of radiation within the cells.
Overpack-
A process which encapsulates damaged packages in a larger package.
PGRC
Phased Geological Repository Concept is the concept facility which
will manage radioactive waste in the long term, which includes
storage, monitoring and backfilling.
Reworking
Minor repair work on damaged packages and to prevent further
minimise further degradation from occurring.
Stillage
A container for holding four 500L drums. The drums are only
extracted from a stillage when being individually inspected in the
Inspection Cell or overpacked in the Overpacking Cell.
Storage Vault A facility within the PGRC which is used to store the waste packages.
Transfer Tunnel The tunnel which connects all inspection cells together and with the
overpacking cell. A rack and pinion system will be adopted.
Twist Lock
(T-Lock)
A crane locks into this feature to move/lift a package. A T-Lock is
used on a 3m3 box, 3m3 drum and stillage.