22 May Conveyor Channel Removed from Hot Cells

Following the removal of the final section of the 27-meter-long conveyor channel from the Hot Cell facility, the focus is now on the next major phase: sandblasting of cell walls and floors using remote-controlled equipment.

OOn Tuesday, May 15, the Hot Cell team completed the removal of the final section of the conveyor system, thereby preparing for the next significant phase: sandblasting the walls and floor within the six concrete cells.

Since the beginning of the year, the team has been in the process of removing the conveyor system, which consisted of a small trolley that moved between the cells in a 27-meter-long narrow channel running under the tables within a shielded enclosure. The conveyor system served as a transport route between the cells, and radioactive items were transported by chain drive on the small trolley within the channel from one cell to another.

Prior to removal, the conveyor system was characterized, meaning that radiation levels in and around the channel and the small trolley were investigated. It was found that, as anticipated, there were a few "hot spots" (small areas containing radioactive particles with high radiation levels) and significant radioactive contamination within the channel. Read more about the creative solution for the characterization task here.

Following characterization, the removal task was meticulously planned based on the collected data and subsequently thoroughly practiced on a 1:1 scale model constructed in a non-radioactive environment. First, the trolley was removed, then the chain drive, and finally, the channel was extracted piece by piece.

With the removal of the channel, the Hot Cell group is now preparing for the significant task of cleaning the cell walls using remote-controlled sandblasting equipment.