Remote robotic technology development for the new plutonium production facility

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6504049

Heckendorn, II, F M; Duncan, N D

The Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) in Aiken, South Carolina, is developing remote robotics technology, in conjunction with the Savannah River Plant (SRP), to support a new generation of plutonium production facilities. The present conventional glove box facilities are based on 1950's design technology and are obsolete. Future potential process changes and possible additional tasks increase the need for a newer technology facility. The design objectives for the new facilities are to minimize personnel exposure, both operating and maintenance, and to maximize SNM accountability and safeguards. Therefore, the process systems would be contained in a totally remote environmental designed for no personnel entry over its lifetime. These concepts required new robotic and robotic interface technologies. The conceptual design is complete, and work is progressing in the development and demonstration phases. The robotic approaches taken are described in this paper, in the context of the overall facility design, which is specifically tailored for robotics. 4 figs.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 6504049
• Report Number(s): DP-MS-88-66; CONF-890304-21; ON: DE89004047
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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42 ENGINEERING
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDES
CONTROL
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
MAINTENANCE
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
METALS
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PLUTONIUM
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REMOTE CONTROL
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
ROBOTS
SAFEGUARDS
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS