GLOVEBOX DISMANTLEMENT AND EQUIPMENT PROTECTION IN CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENTS

Conference · Thu Feb 27 04:00:00 EST 2003

OSTI ID:827437

Kitamura, Akihiro; Stallings, Ellen; Wilburn, Dianne W

It has been revealed from the experiences of Decontamination and Decommissioning (D&D) activities that even a small improvement in performance can result in significant risk reduction and cost savings. For example, Race Scan Ear Mic System, which was originally developed for communications between racecar drivers and crews in loud environments, has been successfully applied to D&D work and proved to enhance worker safety and communications. Glovebox dismantlement is an important and costly process in D&D activities of nuclear facilities. Adequate decontamination and size reduction of the gloveboxes are especially important in this activity because they have the potential to reduce risks and costs significantly. This paper presents some simple approaches to support D&D tasks and discusses their potential advantages. Examples discussed include: Repeated shear wiping of large pipes and ducts; Application of thin layers on radiological counters for uninterrupted use; and Partial use of robotics for glovebox dismantling. The paper also discusses schematics for protecting equipment interiors and/or glovebox inner surfaces from contamination, which may result in significant savings and waste minimization upon future dismantlement. Examples discussed include: Smart coating for contamination prevention; and Protecting equipment by geometrically simple cover.

• Research Organization: Waste Management Division, Pu Fuel Center, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, 4-33 Muramatsu, Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki 319-1194 (JP); Risk Reduction & Environmental Stewardship Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• OSTI ID: 827437
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
AUDITORY ORGANS
COATINGS
COMMUNICATIONS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMMISSIONING
DECONTAMINATION
DUCTS
GLOVEBOXES
MINIMIZATION
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PERFORMANCE
SAFETY
SHEAR
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES