Plutonium production in a remote automated cell

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6778277

Maddux, E P; Purcell, J A

Production of /sup 239/Pu metal has traditionally been carried out in glove box enclosures to protect operating personnel and the outside environment from the hazards of radiation. With the advent of more stringent federal regulations for protecting personnel, the environment, and security of special nuclear materials, it is proposed that plutonium be processed in a totally remote environment using automated work stations and robotic materials transfer and equipment maintenance. Investigators envision a facility where operations are carried out in two remotely operated cells. One cell will contain aqueous processing operations while the second will contain powder operations. Various processing steps will be carried out on modular frames of a standard configuration. The processing equipment on each frame will be completely automated and operated via computer. Nonaqueous materials will be transferred between frames by robots using closed-circuit television and computer control. Robots will be able to perform limited in-place maintenance of equipment on each frame for high-maintenance replaceable components. When major repair is required, the processing frame will be decoupled by the robot and moved to a decontamination and maintenance area by a conventional overhead bridge crane. The new design concept will provide for long-term goals, which include exposure reduction, near-real time accountability, safeguards, and waste reduction.

• OSTI ID: 6778277
• Report Number(s): CONF-8711195-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
054000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Health & Safety
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101 -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
42 ENGINEERING
420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DOSES
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
MAINTENANCE
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
NUCLEI
OPERATION
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POWDERS
PRODUCTION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOISOTOPES
REGULATIONS
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
ROBOTS
SAFEGUARDS
USES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES