Wireless, long-term environmental monitoring of nuclear stores
Sellafield Ltd is responsible for the safe, long-term storage of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM), which are the result of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing. Environmental monitoring of the SNM package stores is necessary to demonstrate that the packages remain in a stable environment. Sellafield Ltd would like to explore the installation of sensors within an empty SNM package that can regularly wirelessly transmit data about the environment within the SNM stores.
The solution must be able to transmit data from inside the cell through the concrete cell wall to a receiver at the charge face, then onto the control room. Sellafield are seeking a proof of concept within 12 - 18 months, and a deployable solution by 2026.
CHALLENGE AIMS
Sellafield Ltd are seeking remote monitoring devices that can:
- Provide regular cell environmental data remotely (temperature, humidity and salinity)
- Provide an alert if alpha radiation levels reach a threshold value
- Be able to transmit measured environmental data from inside the cell through the concrete cell wall to a receiver at the charge face, where it will be transmitted by Wi-Fi or existing plant IT infrastructure to a standalone laptop
- Function within a modified dummy package in SNM package stores, which is a radioactive environment
- Operate for 30+ years
In addition to the monitoring device, the solution should consider how the signal will be transmitted from the outside of the cell to the control room several tens of metres through the building fabric. There are pre-existing cables that run up to the control room. The data will be managed through interaction with a user interface that would enable operators to visualise data trends, although this is not an expected output of any feasibility study.
Alternative methods of measuring environmental conditions will be considered a bonus.
FIND OUT MORE
Please download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.
You can watch a webinar and Q&A session with the challenge owners for more information and details of how to apply.
The deadline for applications for this challenge is 6pm on Wednesday 29th November 2023.
