NAC OPTIMUS^R - Conception to Operation - 21040

In 2017 NAC launched product development of the OPTIMUS^R-H and -L transportation packagings; new Type B(U)F transportation packagings designed for maximum flexibility and cost-efficiency. These systems were developed to support shipment of a wide range of challenging radioactive waste streams, such as Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) or Transuranic (TRU) waste containing aerosol cans with compressed gas and liquefied gas propellants and standard DOT 3E lecture bottles, which are not permitted by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC). Economy is achieved by using Ductile Cast Iron (DCI) for the Outer Shield Vessel (OSV) for OPTIMUS^R-H, with an internal high-integrity Cask Containment Vessel (CCV), made entirely from austenitic stainless steel, that is interchangeable between the OPTIMUS^R-H and -L packagings. The OPTIMUS^R transportation package designs strike an optimal balance between size and payload capacity. The smaller size and weight of OPTIMUS^R permits shipment of up to two (2) OPTIMUS^R-H packages or ten (10) OPTIMUS^R-L packages per Legal Weight Truck (LWT) shipment and simplifies packaging operations, with a large payload capacity that is sufficient for a 110-gallon drum or two Candu fuel baskets. Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issued the initial certificate for the OPTIMUS^R-L packaging in July 2020 and is on-track to issue the initial certificate for the OPTIMUS^R-H packaging around the end of 2020, authorizing a range of radioactive material contents, including Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) and Irradiated Fuel Waste (IFW), including Candu fuel baskets. NAC has fabricated one (1) OPTIMUS^R-H for its own fleet of transportation packagings in addition to five (5) OPTIMUS^R-H and eighteen (18) OPTIMUS^R-L packagings that are near completion for a customer in Canada. In parallel with completing OPTIMUS^R packaging licensing and fabrication activities, NAC has developed a detailed operations and maintenance (O and M) manual, performed dry-runs using the O and M manual, and refined the O and M manual based on lessons-learned from the dry run. NAC has also designed and fabricated the ancillary equipment that will be required to operate and maintain the OPTIMUS^R packagings. Initial shipments in the OPTIMUS^R packaging are planned for early 2021. Once completed successfully, these initial shipments will further demonstrate the efficiency and safety of OPTIMUS^R. In this paper, NAC provides an overview of the development process of the OPTIMUS^R transportation packagings, from approval of the business case and product development plan, through product definition, design, licensing, fabrication, and operation. Challenges and solutions identified during the product development process will be discussed. The initial shipments using the OPTIMUS^R-H packaging will also be discussed. (authors)