TWI’s laser experts have been recognised by the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with a prestigious award for the successful introduction of a new technology to decommission radioactive metal storage containers. The team developed a remote cutting system, utilising TWI’s laser cutting technology, culminating in full trials at Hinkley Point A. Magnox Ltd has a large number of radioactive metal storage containers which have been used over many years for storing and moving fuel elements for the UK’s Magnox reactors.
Magnox Ltd wanted to investigate an approach for breaking down metal storage containers, also known as nuclear skips, which would result in a significant reduction in the amount of active material needing storage. TWI was able to demonstrate that by using robotics to address positioning tolerances; its remote one-pass laser cutting technology can be used to quickly and safely divide a Magnox nuclear skip into five pieces. The resulting active material forms a mass of just over 50kg. The newly cut mass also has a high packing density, so the volume remaining in storage is significantly reduced. Remaining (non-active) steel can be melted and recycled.
