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| I hope he has a license! |
Dounreay plant takes a shine to robot cleaner: It still uses a chamois leather and some elbow grease, but this window cleaner has a hi-tech job. A specially designed robot has been created to tackle a spot of housekeeping at the Dounreay nuclear plant and reach parts staff cannot reach. The labour-saving device doesn't come cheap at £10,000 but it's a drop in the bucket when the overall bill for shutting down the Caithness complex is £2.6 billion.
The plant's staff were faced with cleaning 13 glass-fronted irradiated fuel caves (pictured above - click to enlarge) in the former Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR), which is being decommissioned. Their answer was to devise a robot with arms capable of lifting the three quarters of a tonne inner window to allow it to be wiped while maintaining the safe radiologically affected atmosphere inside. It is the first time in more than 30 years the windows have been cleaned. Over time the double glazed units have built up dust and oxides from highly reactive sodium deposits.
The thick, dirty coating is now being removed using a household chamois cloth attached to a specially designed and purpose-built lifting arm controlled with a robotic manipulator operated by trained staff. The measure will allow employees a better view of the work they are carrying out inside the reactor.
Alex Potts, senior project manager with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, said: "The difference in the glass is striking, and what was a hazy reflection is now a clear, shining view through the window into the cell. The project team are doing a great job with this seemingly simple task, not without its challenges, that will make the decommissioning programme for PFR easier to carry out as the plant is pulled apart." Meanwhile, the 55-metre tall meteorological tower that once stood over the site has been dismantled as part of the decommissioning.
The plant's staff were faced with cleaning 13 glass-fronted irradiated fuel caves (pictured above - click to enlarge) in the former Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR), which is being decommissioned. Their answer was to devise a robot with arms capable of lifting the three quarters of a tonne inner window to allow it to be wiped while maintaining the safe radiologically affected atmosphere inside. It is the first time in more than 30 years the windows have been cleaned. Over time the double glazed units have built up dust and oxides from highly reactive sodium deposits.
The thick, dirty coating is now being removed using a household chamois cloth attached to a specially designed and purpose-built lifting arm controlled with a robotic manipulator operated by trained staff. The measure will allow employees a better view of the work they are carrying out inside the reactor.
Alex Potts, senior project manager with Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, said: "The difference in the glass is striking, and what was a hazy reflection is now a clear, shining view through the window into the cell. The project team are doing a great job with this seemingly simple task, not without its challenges, that will make the decommissioning programme for PFR easier to carry out as the plant is pulled apart." Meanwhile, the 55-metre tall meteorological tower that once stood over the site has been dismantled as part of the decommissioning.
The Scottish Dounreay nuclear plant recently donated equipment to Japan for use in dealing with the damaged Fukushima complex. Dounreay Site Restoration Limited (DSRL) said it had gathered a van-load of respirators, hand-held radiation survey kit, masks and suits. DSRL said it had enough of the equipment for its use.
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