Specialized video systems for use in underground storage tanks

Conference · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10183416

Heckendom, F M; Robinson, C W; Anderson, E K ^[1]; Pardini, A F ^[2]

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1. Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
2. Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)

The Robotics Development Groups at the Savannah River Site and the Hanford site have developed remote video and photography systems for deployment in underground radioactive waste storage tanks at Department of Energy (DOE) sites as a part of the Office of Technology Development (OTD) program within DOE. Figure 1 shows the remote video/photography systems in a typical underground storage tank environment. Viewing and documenting the tank interiors and their associated annular spaces is an extremely valuable tool in characterizing their condition and contents and in controlling their remediation. Several specialized video/photography systems and robotic End Effectors have been fabricated that provide remote viewing and lighting. All are remotely deployable into and from the tank, and all viewing functions are remotely operated. Positioning all control components away from the facility prevents the potential for personnel exposure to radiation and contamination. Overview video systems, both monaural and stereo versions, include a camera, zoom lens, camera positioner, vertical deployment system, and positional feedback. Each independent video package can be inserted through a 100 mm (4 in.) diameter opening. A special attribute of these packages is their design to never get larger than the entry hole during operation and to be fully retrievable. The End Effector systems will be deployed on the large robotic Light Duty Utility Arm (LDUA) being developed by other portions of the OTD-DOE programs. The systems implement a multi-functional ``over the coax`` design that uses a single coaxial cable for all data and control signals over the more than 900 foot cable (or fiber optic) link.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 10183416
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS--94-0211; CONF-950232--1; ON: DE94019063
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002
054000
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
HANFORD RESERVATION
HEALTH AND SAFETY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
REMOTE VIEWING EQUIPMENT
ROBOTS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
TANKS
UNDERGROUND STORAGE
WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE