The third stage involved the removal of the heater from the Engineered Barrier System (EBS). This was a complicated task due to the size and weight of the heater (4.5 meters long and 12 tonnes in weight).


Preparatory work for removal of the heater		  
Removal of the heater from the bentonite
     

With the heater removed the steel liner keeps the EBS in place		  
View of the steel liner after retrieval of the heater
     

Close up of the steel liner after retrieval of the heater		    

 

Full-scale High Level Waste Engineered Barriers (FEBEX) - Excavation Phase