Funding secured for projects addressing directional decontamination of highly radioactive vessels

Two feasibility projects have received funding to address the challenge of deploying directional decontamination heads into large, congested, and highly radioactive vessels at the Sellafield site. This initiative supports Post Operational Clean Out (POCO) efforts – a crucial step in the decommissioning and cleanup of nuclear facilities.

Sellafield Ltd requires innovative solutions for internal vessel cleaning, specifically targeting highly radioactive structures with complex configurations. The internal layouts of these vessels often include intricate components such as cooling and heating coils, fluid mixing and transfer devices, instrument dip-legs, internal vessels, and pipe support brackets. Any deployed cleaning tool must be capable of navigating around these structures while ensuring thorough decontamination.

Two companies, Veolia Nuclear Solutions and Ross Innovation, have been awarded funding to develop novel approaches for directional decontamination head deployment within these challenging environments.

Veolia Nuclear Solutions – Enhancing Long Reach Decontamination

Veolia Nuclear Solutions (VNS) brings 25 years of expertise in the development and deployment of long-reach, radiation-tolerant robotic manipulators for worldwide nuclear applications. Their proposal involves a virtual reality feasibility study to adapt their proprietary, field-tested manipulator technology for in-vessel, ultra-high-pressure water jet cleaning operations at Sellafield. These manipulators are engineered to access vessels through minimal wall and ceiling penetrations, offering extensive vertical and horizontal reach. Combined with their robotic capabilities, it makes them well-suited for a range of critical tasks, including inspection, cleaning, size reduction, access clearing, and dismantling activities in challenging nuclear environments.

Image: Sequence of automated deployment for VNS Folding Manipulator System.

Ross Innovation – ZH-Pulse-Hydro Deployment

Ross Innovation has introduced the ZH-Pulse-Hydro system, a highly versatile, robotically deployed pulsed waterjet system designed for operation in extreme radioactive conditions. This system integrates four advanced technologies:

• The ZH snake-arm robot, developed specifically for nuclear decommissioning.
• Pulsed Waterjet (PWJ) technology, initially developed by VLN Advanced Technologies for coating removal inside jet engines.
• Quantum Imaging from Quantic, the UK Quantum Technology Hub, to generate 3D models via fibre-optics.
• High-resolution fibre optical encoder developed by F4E and Micronor, providing precise positional information without exposing electronics to radiation.

Image: Robot arm with multi-directional jet nozzle.

Project Timeline

Both projects commenced in late 2024 with feasibility studies scheduled to conclude by April 2025. These projects represent the potential for significant advancements in nuclear decontamination technology and are expected to contribute to the overall safety and efficiency of Sellafield's POCO efforts.