Identifying deformities in 500L drums
Sellafield Ltd are responsible for the safe, long-term storage of highly radioactive waste materials that contain magnesium and uranium. This material has been produced by the reprocessing of Magnox fuel. Sellafield Ltd must provide secure containment of this waste for around 100 years of interim storage, that is until the waste is disposed of in a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF).
This challenge is focused on 500L stainless steel drums in which uranium containing waste is stored. A method is required for accurately measuring all dimensions of the waste drums and identifying any deformities. The drums are contained within stillages, and Sellafield Ltd would prefer to be able to obtain drum measurements whilst they remain in their stillage.
CHALLENGE AIMS
Any method of identifying expansion of drums prior to their removal from their stillage would be highly desirable. This would provide confidence that drums would fit back into the stillage following their removal for inspection.
Sellafield Ltd are open to solutions that are deployed from either within or through the window of a drum inspection facility, although preference would be for a solution deployed within the inspection facility. The components of a solution that would be deployed within an inspection facility must be extremely radiation tolerant (see constraints).
Any proposed solution should identify any distortions and be capable of measuring the following dimensions of a drum:
- Vertical height
- Circumference
- Width from the vertical centre line
Sellafield Ltd are seeking solutions that can:
- Assess around 10 stillages (40 drums) within a 2-week window
- Complete a single drum inspection within an hour
- Ideally demonstrate a prototype to Sellafield Ltd within 3 months from the closing date of this challenge
- Be capable of active deployment within 12 - 18 months
FIND OUT MORE
Please download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity. You can also watch a webinar and Q & A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.
