Required Science Base for Remote Technology for Decommissioning and Dismantlement of Nuclear Facilities

摘要

The decommissioning and dismantlement of nuclear facilities entails a wide range of physical tasks (inspection, cutting, handling, packaging, etc.) of a very diverse set of structures (piping, valves, pumps, tanks, wire conduits, building structures, concrete, etc.). Successful D&D activity is possible today using existing technology based primarily on manual operations which entails high cost and long timelines. Numerous attempts have been made to use remote systems technology (robotics) to reduce hazards to workers and to reduce the cost of the total life cycle of the operation. Barriers to the deployment of an advanced technology arise from a history of taking a low risk approach, the deployment of industrial robotics technology poorly suited to the functional spectrum associated with D&D, or the development of one-off devices (with a nominal record of performance). All of this disparate activity suggests the absence of a national strategy (based on adequate resources) for a science base that would aggressively attack the technology needs with a balanced approach where timely investment can be made to address weaknesses and opportunities to most rapidly deploy a cost effective technology. The existing project oriented approach results in special purpose systems developed under contract primarily by industry to meet a local site need independent of long term research activity at universities and the DOE's own research laboratories. Further, this special purpose technology depends on a special class of maintenance technicians provided by the system supplier therefore severely limiting operational flexibility at any given site. By contrast, given a national strategy, generalized technology could be deployed to not only cover all relevant applications but could do so at low risk and dramatically reduced costs. In fact, it is suggested that deployment costs can be reduced by more than 50%, and using sophisticated training and operational software, timelines could be substantially reduced and overall logistics functions (maintenance) also could be dealt with as a cost-cutting opportunity [25].