Direct ultimate disposal of spent fuel. Handling tests for gallery storage. Design and testing of the track system for gallery storage (TA 1)

The gallery storage concept for ultimate disposal in a salt dome provides for a system on rails for the transport and emplacement of POLLUX containers. Based on the experience made by the Deutsche Bahn AG and other operators of heavy-duty transports on rails as well as on the appropriate rules and ordinances, a permanent way for an underground track system was conceived. Track sections of the transport and storage lines of the track system were implemented in a full-scale test stand. In a two-year practical testing programme accompanied by metrological studies, the employed permanent way and the test components plateau wagon, battery-operated locomotive and emplacement device were studied with regard to their suitability for ultimate disposal facilities. The chosen permanent way without ballast and sleepers for the storage lines as well as the permanent way with ballast and steel sleepers for cross cuts and main roads, using rails with the profile S 49, proved to be good. Although the chosen minimum curve radius of 20 m could be passed, it led to a high wear of rails and wheels. Optimization of the components plateau wagon and track led to an improved curve-going of the plateau wagon. (orig./HP)