Requirements Management and Systems Engineering

Development of a Disposal System Specification (2018)

MCM’s systems engineering expertise was used to support Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository Ltd in their challenge to develop a Disposal System Specification for the UK’s LLW Repository (LLWR). Through face to face discussions and comprehensive investigation of relevant documentation, MCM was able to draw out high-level, external requirements imposed on LLW Repository Ltd by important stakeholders and develop lower level system requirements, sub-system requirements and component specifications.

In order to provide comprehensive management of the requirements which were documented, MCM provided LLW Repository Ltd with a Requirements Management System (RMS) by populating the LLWR DSS requirements in an IBM Rational Dynamic Object-Oriented Requirements System (DOORS) database, providing LLW Repository Ltd with an easily-communicable method to show the traceability of their requirements and allowing them to maintain formally documented change control over those requirements.

Development of a conceptual design for a type B transport container (2018)

MCM supported ARUP in their development of a User Requirements Document (URD), Systems Requirements Document (SRD) and conceptual design of a Type B transport container suitable for transporting the GNS and SSB boxes in which ILW is currently stored by Magnox Ltd and Sellafield Ltd respectively.

Through interaction with the end users and reference to regulatory documentation, transport container user requirements were determined for Magnox Ltd and Sellafield Ltd separately, given the different ILW containment boxes they currently use. System and sub-system requirements were formed against the prioritisation-ranked URDs, thus meeting the user requirements of both Magnox Ltd and Sellafield Ltd, upon which articulation of low level component specifications was carried out.

In developing the requirements leading to a concept design, MCM has been able to efficiently aid Sellafield Ltd and Magnox Ltd in ensuring their final product will meet their user requirements, with a logical and documented traceability from product design up to the initially declared requirements.

Development of a larger waste container design (2016)

MCM, and their partners AMEC Foster Wheeler, were contracted to RWM in order to design a waste container which could be used to package  large  volumes  of  ILW  which  exceed  the  activity  and  fissile  limits  for  transport  as  an  Industrial  Package (IP) in accordance with IAEA SSR-6 transport regulations.

MCM’s systems engineering expertise was used to define a set of user requirements for the larger waste container, from which a set of system requirements was developed. A key requirement lay in the transport of such a container within Large Waste Transport Container (LWTC), as shown below.

Initial analysis resulted in the choice of an Unshielded Intermediate Level Waste (UILW) container design for which an Integrated Test, Evaluation, and Acceptance Plan (ITEAP) and design guidance was developed. RWM was provided with a design implementation plan covering the scope of work, costs and timescales in order for a larger waste container which sufficiently meets user requirements to be manufactured.

Review of the underpinning and justification for the 500 year integrity requirement placed on UK disposal containers for intermediate level waste (2014)

MCM has led a review for RWM to document the origins and supporting evidence for the intermediate level waste container integrity requirements and re-evaluate their relevance. This has included quantification and formulation in the context of the current GDF programme boundary conditions and to identify options for alternative solutions (other than placing the requirements on the waste container) to meeting the generic safety functions for the range of potential compatible engineered barriers to be used together with the range of potential intermediate level waste containers. As part of the review, definitions of waste container safety functions during each phase has been outlined, uncertainties associated with each phase have been identified and consideration of additional aspects relating to activities and conditions of waste packages during interim storage prior to transportation to a GDF have been introduced. A workshop was also held to preview the initial outputs of the review with invited experts and RWM staff. The outputs of the work will be used to develop a number of the recommendations that may lead to improved definition, justification and quantification of the current waste container integrity target.

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