UKAEA’s centre for Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) is the systems integrator for the European Spallation Source’s Active Cells Facility. The European Spallation Source (ESS) is a multi-disciplinary research facility in Lund, Sweden and will be the world’s most powerful neutron source.
Operations at ESS will result in components becoming highly radioactive. Radioactive components like the spallation target will be transferred in shielded casks from the neutron source to the Active Cells Facility. The components will be cut up using techniques developed by RACE and delivered by industry, before being stored and shipped to a waste storage facility.
RACE is working with industry to design, build and commission all the equipment required to operate the Active Cells Facility.
Due to the high levels of radiation, this hot cell will never be accessible to humans. Operations and maintenance must be carried out with remote handling robotics systems, with the help of a radiation-resistant viewing system and virtual reality.
The size of the components – which include the 2.5-meter diameter, 10-meter long target wheel – means that the primary work tools are large in-cell remote manipulators designed to be operated and maintained for many decades.
Similar capabilities and facilities for managing, processing and storing radioactive waste will be vital, transferrable knowledge for designing fusion energy power plants.
- Radioactive components are loaded though a floor valve at the top of the process cell.
- Components are loaded into position for cutting and dismantling, then loaded into waste baskets.
- Waste baskets are transported into the maintenance cell through the intrabay doors.
- Waste baskets are loaded into storage pits below the maintenance cell after pit lids are removed by a crane.
- Waste baskets are loaded into a shipment container for offsite shipment through the transfer area.
RACE has brought a unique expertise that was essential for this project…knowledge on how to do maintenance in a highly hazardous environment which is our working environment.
– Carwyn Jones, Work Package Manager for Remote Handling Systems, ESS