An innovative cost saving solution for 100 years of nuclear waste containment

**愿景：**针对国内和国际核废料管理和退役市场的遏制解决方案，特别是针对未屏蔽的遗留废物和新建废物流。这代表了一个稳定的市场机会，英国已经制定了100年的废物管理战略。核能为英国实现净零排放目标提供了可靠的低碳能源。然而，我们需要确保一种成本效益高、安全、负责任的废物收集和储存方式，从运行到发电厂的寿命结束，甚至更远。**方法和创新：** 2017年，Eadon Consulting （Eadon）和Arc Energy Resources （Arc）在Sellafield Game Changers合作中构想了一种不同于任何运营中的创新核废料容器；一个简单的制造气缸与一个独特的和易于操作的关闭机构，利用设计制造原则的商业创新。这导致了合资企业Capsa Solutions的成立；专利保护;注册设计;并在综合废物管理会议上发布概念。与核先进制造研究中心（NAMRC）以及分包商Hydrock和放射性废物管理公司一起，Smart Grants的投资将催化监管部门批准商业化。**主要目标：**与代表主要客户（Sellafield， EDF Energy和监管机构，放射性废物管理）的咨询小组一起，到项目结束时，我们将：*优化容器设计，*进行生产成本制造试验，并*获得TRL4\商业化的概念性合规信。**影响：**核退役管理局估计未来100年英国退役费用约为1200亿英镑。地质处置清单估计，从2015年到2014年，英国有744,000立方米的包装垃圾。我们的容器的目标是占预计废物总量的47%。我们预测，我们可以降低制造成本，从而节省9900万英镑，到2012年（50%的市场份额）。节约的成本仅与生产成本有关，我们看到进一步的成本节约与优化设计有关，以更好地适应废物管理的生命周期，包括提高储存效率，以及与废物容器移动和运输相关的物流改进。该项目将支持两家英国中小企业将其设计商业化并从中获利，为英国工业战略目标做出贡献，以提高英国在产品设计和制造方面的竞争力。这包括一个重要的全球机会，仅欧洲反应堆的退役就会产生另外140万立方米的低水平和中水平废物（《2019年世界核废料报告》，欧洲焦点），我们可以通过直接出口或许可来实现这一目标。

**Vision:** A containment solution for domestic and international nuclear waste management and decommissioning markets, specifically targeting unshielded legacy and new build waste streams. This represents a stable market opportunity, with a waste management strategy being developed for 100 years for the UK.Nuclear energy provides reliable low carbon power for the UK as we move towards Net-Zero targets. However, we need to secure a cost effective, safe, and responsible means of waste collection and storage from operation, through to a power plant's end of life, and beyond.**Approach and Innovation:** A 2017 Sellafield Game Changers collaboration between Eadon Consulting (Eadon) and Arc Energy Resources (Arc) conceived an innovative nuclear waste container unlike any in operation; a simple to manufacture cylinder with a unique and easy to operate closing mechanism that leverages design for manufacture principles for commercial innovation. This resulted in: formation of a joint venture, Capsa Solutions; patent protection; registered design; and concept launch at the Integrated Waste Management conference. Together with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC), and subcontractors Hydrock and Radioactive Waste Management, Smart Grants investment will catalyse regulatory approval towards commercialisation.**Key objectives:**Alongside an advisory group representing key customers, Sellafield, EDF Energy and regulator, Radioactive Waste Management, by project end we will have:* optimised container design,* conducted manufacturing trials with production costing, and* gained a conceptual letter of compliance towards commercialisation at TRL4\.**Impact:** The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estimates ~£120billion UK decommissioning costs over the next 100 years. The Inventory for Geological Disposal estimates 744,000m3 of UK packaged waste from 2015 to 2140\. Our container targets 47% of the total projected waste volume. We predict we can reduce the cost of manufacture, resulting in a saving of £99million through to 2120 (50% market share). A saving related to production cost only, we see further cost savings related to optimisation of the design to better fit the waste management lifecycle including increased storage efficiency, and logistical improvements related to waste container movement and transportation. The project will support two UK based SMEs to commercialise and profit from their design, contributing to the UK Industrial Strategy goal to increase the UK's competitiveness in product design and manufacture. This includes a significant global opportunity where decommissioning Europe's reactors alone generates another 1.4million m3 of low and intermediate level waste (World Nuclear Waste Report 2019, Focus Europe) that we can target through direct exports or licensing.