Salt concentration measurement
At Sellafield, the birthplace of the UK’s nuclear industry, there are a diverse range of buildings and structures located on a complex site with an area of six square kilometers. Many of these buildings are ageing and effective monitoring and maintenance is fundamental to operating both safely and cost-effectively.
The Vitrified Product Store (VPS) was built to store containers of vitrified waste. It is a passively cooled store, using the heat generated by the store contents to draw a cold air stream into the store through a set of cooling air ducts. Sellafield is in a coastal location, so the air surrounding the VPS is humid and salt-laden. The drawn-in air is not conditioned, and therefore the moisture and salt content have the potential to cause corrosion inside the store.
The VPS contains a mild steel and stainless steel structure referred to as the Tube Module Assembly (TMA). Man access in the proximity of the TMA is not possible, therefore Sellafield would like to explore different techniques and technologies to allow the remote measurement of salt concentrations on the TMA. This will help to develop an understanding of the corrosion occurring inside the VPS and to inform the design of future storage facilities.
CHALLENGE AIMS
Sellafield are seeking innovative solutions that will enable the measurement of salt concentration on the TMA support structure in the lower plenum.
Solutions must be capable of deployment into the vaults via vertical air ducts which contain a series of bends.
Solutions should be capable of deployment once Proof of Concept has been established within the next 18 – 24 months.
Proposals for solutions which address part, or all of this challenge, are invited. Applications solely describing salt measurement technology are welcome, as are applications solely describing potential deployment solutions.
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 owner for more information and details of how to apply.
The closing date for applications is Friday 25th November at 12 noon.
