TWI has to date provided services to the Office of Civilian Radioactive waste management in the USA, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel & Waste Management Co (SKB), Nagra in Switzerland and the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (ANDRA). Projects have involved:
- Making of sample pieces
- Metallographic examination and weld property assessment through tests
- Prototype container manufacture
- Assessment of encapsulation plant plans.
EB welding is effective for both fabrication and sealing such canisters, which have to be reliably, hermetically sealed for geological time spans. The process offers deep section welding, high speed, high integrity and low distortion. It also has the benefit of being non-contact and capable of being performed remotely in a hot-cell – necessary because of the high levels of radioactivity.
For further information please see Joining Technologies or email contactus@twi.co.uk