The first stage of the Trial Run of Final Disposal at Posiva’s final disposal facility has been completed successfully

The inner part of the capsule is lowered into the copper outer part.

The transfer carried out by Posiva follows, to a large extent, the same procedures as those used in TVO’s own fuel transfers in the power plant, but the cask used in the Trial Run is Posiva’s test transport cask. The transfer vehicle proceeds at a maximum speed of five kilometres per hour and is accompanied by security staff. The security staff also blocks other traffic from accessing the route to ensure an uninterrupted and safe transfer operation. 

Transfer cannister in the reception hall of the encapsulation facility.

Once Posiva starts production operation, transfers of actual spent fuel from the interim storage to Posiva’s facility will take place every few weeks following similar procedures.  

The cannister complete with the insert and the outer cannister assembled from components at the encapsulation plant is transferred to the transfer corridor under the cannister cell to await to be filled. 

The transfer cask is lowered onto the transport cask transfer trolley.

In the Trial Run, the operation of the final disposal facility is tested comprehensively, albeit still without the spent fuel. The facility features many unique systems and equipment produced as a result of decades of research and now used together for the first time. The Trial Run of Final Disposal can be described as a joint functional test of all the systems and equipment. The Trial Run will take several months. 

Next, the test operation continues with the filling and closing of the capsule, which are done completely by remote control in radiation-protected premises.

In the video, you can see how the test transport cask moves from TVO’s interim storage for spent fuel to Posiva’s encapsulation plant along a prespecified route. 

Read also: Trial Run of Final Disposal started today in Olkiluoto

Text: Pasi Tuohimaa
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti