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The Game Changers innovation programme is funding two groundbreaking feasibility projects aimed at revolutionising material characterisation and measurement for nuclear waste management at Sellafield Ltd. These projects, led by Clifton Photonics and Veolia, were chosen from applications submitted in response to the "In-situ real-time characterisation and measurement of materials" <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/In-situ_real-time_characterisation_and_measurement_of_materials_for_effective_nuclear_waste_management" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenge</a>.&nbsp;The initiative seeks to shift from traditional laboratory-based testing to real-time, in-situ analysis, enabling the rapid detection of a broad spectrum of radiological and chemical properties. This transition is expected to significantly cut down the current 12-week timeframe required for data collection and analysis.&nbsp;Funded Projects:&nbsp;<ul><li>Clifton Photonics: Known for their innovative Raman spectroscopy systems, which they have successfully demonstrated in active trials at Sellafield through a previous Game Changers project. Raman spectroscopy enables the detection of contaminants such as TPH, PCBs, PAHs, SVOCs, VOCs, and asbestos within seconds to minutes. In this study, Clifton Photonics will investigate the applicability of Raman spectroscopy for contaminated materials not previously tested.</li><li>Veolia: Veolia plans to adapt its Neomab container-based mobile labs – originally designed for wastewater analysis in Africa – to suit the nuclear sector. These flexible mobile units can integrate various global technologies to treat and analyse hazardous waste efficiently. Their portability allows for deployment across the NDA and MOD estate, offering a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional methods.&nbsp;</li></ul>By reducing the need for intrusive sampling in hazardous environments, these projects aim to enhance safety while optimising laboratory capacity and expediting waste management processes.&nbsp;Both projects are scheduled for completion in April 2025.&nbsp;

Game Changers is funding two groundbreaking feasibility projects aimed at revolutionising material characterisation and measurement for nuclear waste management at Sellafield Ltd.

Game Changers funds innovative approaches for in-field testing

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In response to a Game Changers <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Improvement_of_information_management_in_Nuclear_Safety_Cases" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenge</a> focused on enhancing information management, three feasibility projects have been awarded funding to develop innovative solutions for Sellafield Ltd. The initiative aims to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and traceability of information transfers within Nuclear Safety Cases and their associated documentation.The Nuclear Safety Case is a critical body of evidence that ensures nuclear hazards are adequately managed, operations remain safe, and risks are minimised to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). The associated documents undergo continuous revisions and currently exist in various formats without live links between them. This can result in time consuming processes to maintain consistency and traceability.To address this challenge, three companies have been funded to conduct feasibility studies:<h2>Eigen Ltd – Safety Case Management and Visualisation</h2>Eigen Ltd has proposed a feasibility assessment of the Eigen Safety Barriers application, a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solution designed for managing, visualising, and retrieving documents related to Major Accident Hazards (MAHs) in the oil &amp; gas industry. With similarities between MAHs and Nuclear Safety Cases, an adaptation of this solution for Sellafield’s requirements is expected to enhance information management and visualisation for nuclear safety documentation.<h2>Amentum – ThreadSafe: Robust Golden Thread Alignment</h2>Amentum aims to introduce ThreadSafe, an advanced information management approach that automatically captures the relationships and dependencies within safety cases, operating instructions, and maintenance instructions. Utilising advanced natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning tools, ThreadSafe will seek to extract entities and relationships from text-based and unstructured documents, improving data consistency and accessibility.<h2>Cerberus Nuclear Ltd – ClearThread: Providing Clarity in Safety</h2>Cerberus Nuclear Ltd is developing ClearThread, a concept aimed at streamlining Nuclear Safety Case management using large language models (LLM) and optical character recognition (OCR). This system aims to automate the extraction, analysis, and organisation of document content into a centralised database. By processing large volumes of documents in varying formats – including PDFs, Word files, and scanned images – ClearThread is being developed to enable previously non-searchable documents and document structures to become intuitively presented, accessible and therefore easier to manage.﻿The feasibility studies will conclude in April 2025 with pitches for proof-of-concept funding. These projects mark a significant step toward valuable solutions for the integrity and efficiency of nuclear safety documentation management, ensuring enhanced compliance and operational safety for Sellafield Ltd.

Three feasibility projects have been awarded funding to develop innovative solutions aimed at improving the accuracy, efficiency, and traceability of information transfers within Nuclear Safety Cases at Sellafield Ltd.

Feasibility projects awarded funding to improve Nuclear Safety Case information management

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Veolia Nuclear Solutions and Ross Innovation receive funding to address the challenge of deploying directional decontamination heads into large, congested, and highly radioactive vessels at the Sellafield site.

Funding secured for projects addressing directional decontamination of highly radioactive vessels

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Sellafield Ltd is tackling the <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Fixatives_for_containment_of_alpha_contamination_in_gloveboxes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenge of managing alpha-contaminated gloveboxes</a> as part of its decommissioning programme. The goal is to identify effective, durable fixatives that can prevent alpha particles from becoming airborne during the handling and processing of these gloveboxes. With over 800 gloveboxes slated for decommissioning, ensuring safe containment during transportation and dismantling is a top priority. To address this, Sellafield Ltd initiated a challenge through the Game Changers innovation programme to explore new solutions.Out of thirteen proposals received, the following projects have been awarded funding to develop potential solutions:&nbsp;<h2>FEVDI Nuclear&nbsp;</h2>Based in France and specialising in decontamination, FEVDI Nuclear will focus on adapting their existing LP3 fixative – a widely used product in the nuclear sector&nbsp;– with a focus on enhanced properties and bespoke future-proofing of the fixative. &nbsp;<h2>Cyclife EDF UK&nbsp;</h2>This project will evaluate the application of various fixatives in glovebox environments, emphasising robotic deployment. Spray trials and material compatibility tests will help determine the effectiveness, limitations, and optimal use of the fixatives in real-world scenarios.&nbsp;<h2>Applied Nuclear Physics&nbsp;</h2>Leveraging recent breakthroughs in 3D printing enabling technologies, the team aims to develop an innovative solution for containment integrated with a deployment system. &nbsp;These feasibility studies aim to develop solutions that could enhance containment practices at Sellafield, contributing to safer and more efficient nuclear decommissioning.&nbsp;Given the age and condition of many gloveboxes, there is a strong focus on achieving practical solutions within the next 12 months to minimise potential radiological contamination risks. If these feasibility studies show promising results, further funding could support advancing the projects to the proof-of-concept stage, enabling the development of active containment systems to meet this timeline.&nbsp;

Three solutions receive feasibility funding to tackle the challenge of managing alpha-contaminated gloveboxes as part of Sellafield's decommissioning programme.

Innovative solutions for managing alpha-contaminated gloveboxes at Sellafield

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The Game Changers programme welcomes three more exceptional Project Managers to the delivery team: Rob Cruickshank, Scott Fairley, and Kate Barrie.

Game Changers introduces new talent to tackle nuclear decommissioning challenges

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The tenth annual NDA group supply chain event will see the Game Changers programme take a prominent position with its own dedicated area in the Innovation Zone, highlighting its vital contributions to the nuclear sector.

News

Game Changers funds innovative approaches for in-field testing

Feasibility projects awarded funding to improve Nuclear Safety Case information management

Funding secured for projects addressing directional decontamination of highly radioactive vessels

Innovative solutions for managing alpha-contaminated gloveboxes at Sellafield

Game Changers introduces new talent to tackle nuclear decommissioning challenges

Game Changers to shine at tenth NDA group supply chain event