TWI wins contract to develop advanced electron beam welding for US nuclear waste repository

In response to a solicitation from the US Department of Energy (DOE) and working with its US partner, United Defense, L.P., Corporate Technology Center (CTC), TWI has won a contract to explore the application of Reduced Pressure Electron Beam Welding (RPEBW) to waste package final closure welds at the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

RPEBW is based on electron beam welding technology but eliminates the need for a high vacuum environment by using local seals and pumping. Through work with DOE's Office of Civilian Radioacitive Waste Management (OCRWM) and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL) the CTC-TWI team has already demonstrated the cost saving and productivity potential of RPEBW over gas tungsten arc welding.

This project will further develop and optimise the RPEBW process and represents the first phase of a proposed plan to customise and demonstrate the technology for possible use at Yucca Mountain.

For further information, please contact: electronbeam@twi.co.uk