DOPAS: Full scale demonstration of Plugs and Seals - 5279

The DOPAS full-scale demonstration project aims at improving the adequacy and consistency regarding industrial feasibility of plugs and seals to be used in disposal facilities of spent nuclear fuel in different geological environments. Different types of plugs are needed in repositories worldwide, depending on the geological conditions. Part of these plugs serve as mechanically isolating different parts of the repository from each other. They also serve in isolating the waste packages from water and prevent the possible migration of radionuclides by providing low conductivity conditions with absorbing materials. The DOPAS project considers the design basis, reference designs and strategies to demonstrate the compliance of the reference design for the experiments' plugs and seals. Full-scale demonstrations require planning and coordination of development, construction, research needed for implementation, test and laboratory work in different scales, monitoring activities and assessment of performance in long-term. Five demonstration experiments for plugs and seals are being partially or wholly implemented during the DOPAS project with participation from 14 European partners. There are the Full Scale Seal (FSS) demonstration in France, the Experimental Pressure and Sealing Plug (EPSP) demonstration in Czech Republic, the Dome Plug (DOMPLU) experiment in Sweden, the Posiva's deposition tunnel plug (POPLU) experiment in Finland, and the in-situ demonstration test for shaft sealing components (ELSA) in German