Experience feedback after 2 years operation of the RT-100 package and potential developments

The RT-100 type B(U) package was briefly presented at PATRAM 2013 as a solution to solve delays and disruptions that had occurred in the LLW shipping schedules in the USA. It was developed to carry up to 160ft3 (4530 L) liners loaded with low level wastes, currently spent resins and filters. The RT-100 cask design was approved in March 2014 by the USNRC, 18 months after the initial submittal of the application for a certificate of compliance. Four casks were delivered to the US market between January and September 2014, 3 operated by Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS), and 1 by Exelon Corporation. When this new cask arrived on the market, it faced a unique challenge in a market where cask users for decades were familiar with previously existing cask designs. Therefore, our first step was to train operators and users on the handling, loading and pre-shipment inspection procedures. Detailed instructions were written to be very user friendly and understandable by everyone. A protected loading spreadsheet was developed specifically to help shippers determine the capacity of any specific liner to be transported within the RT-100. In addition, for every first 'type B' shipment by a nuclear facility us-ing the RT-100, Robatel Technologies provided an engineer to the site for technical support to the shippers. A technical support hotline was put in place and a user portal is also available on our 'www.robateltech.com' website for each cask user to download all the necessary documentation. During the first years of operation of the RT-100, ROBATEL learned from customer feedback and requests and as a result, the RT-100 is now part of the US standard fleet for LLW shipments. Recent developments in 2015 make it the first type B cask certified to transport grossly dewatered resins containing up to 20% free liquid by volume. This article will lay out in further detail the major developments, lessons learned and further potential revisions of the CoC to increase the RT-100's versatility. (author)