The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

Materials engineering specialist TWI has recently completed an NDA-funded project that has successfully demonstrated the capability of modern high-power lasers to assist in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

In the NDA estate there are over 200,000m2 of contaminated concrete and over 88km of contaminated pipework. Currently, methods such as water jetting, mechanical scabbling and heavy-duty cutting techniques are employed but have drawbacks such as slow speed, difficulty of deployment and significant secondary wastes.

To undertake this work, TWI used an industrial 5kW solid state fibre laser with high beam quality, which enabled both concrete removal (scabbling) and pipework cutting trials to be demonstrated using the same unit. The laser power was deployed via an articulated arm robot mounted on a 6m linear traverse.

Paul Hilton, TWI Project Manager, said:

"The NDA funding enabled us to take two laser processes, previously demonstrated only in the laboratory, and introduce the required deployment technology to produce representative demonstrations of how both pipe cutting and concrete scabbling could be beneficially employed in practice. The knowledge base acquired during the project should assist both Site Licence Companies and supply chain companies in exploiting the potential of the laser for decommissioning in the near future."

During February and March 2010, TWI ran four 'Demonstration Days' which were attended by over 60 people representing Site Licence Companies, NDA and organisations from all levels of the nuclear supply chain, both within the UK and internationally. The sessions were an opportunity for industry to see first-hand the technology in action and question the project team directly about issues such as process performance compared to other technologies, deployment, implementation costs, and safety aspects.

Dr Melanie Brownridge, Head of Research and Development, said

''Funding from the NDA for technology development in the supply chain will accelerate delivery of solutions to the challenges of nuclear clean-up and waste management, as contaminated concrete and pipework present major decommissioning challenges in terms of the total volumes of material to be treated, the number of facilities affected and radiation levels present. TWI has done a fantastic job in progressing this technology one step closer to deployment.''

The project has enabled Site Licence Companies and supply chain organisations to have a detailed evaluation of the laser technology's capabilities for the removal of surface contaminated concrete and cutting of metal pipework and process vessels. 

TWI is seeking opportunities for further development and practical deployment of the laser technology with a number of potential end-users who have expressed interest in specific future project applications. The facility and equipment used for the demonstrations will therefore be maintained and kept available as a training and trials facility for companies considering the use of high-power lasers for decommissioning applications.

• More information on the project, TWI contact details and videos of the lasers in action

Future innovative calls will be posted in our tenders section of this website:

• More information on current tender opportunities with NDA