NUCLEAR POWER
KUKA robot in a nuclear cell build
ROBOT REVOLUTION N
Katherine Nowill reveals how robots are managing the fallout of nuclear power
uclear plants are embracing the use of robots and automation in decommissioning activities across many of the UK’s deactivated
nuclear power facilities, for several reasons, as detailed here. Safety is, naturally, top of the agenda.
Decommissioning a nuclear facility involves the handling of radioactive, legacy waste materials, which are, by their very nature, hazardous to human health. Robots can perform these handling tasks quickly and efficiently in areas where the radiation levels are far too high for humans to work in safely. Efficiency is another huge selling point
for robots: they can be pre-configurated to work continuously without rest, which better positions them, versus manual task management, to complete such tasks more quickly than humans. Not forsaking the health and safety benefits of using robots, government defuelling and clean-up strategies require processes that meet with decommissioning targets: efficient, fast and proven decommissioning activities that are carried out safely and with minimal impact on the environment. Robots are popular for the efficiency
they deliver when compared with human personnel. Robots can perform repetitive
48
www.engineerlive.com
tasks with high precision, which is important when working with radioactive waste materials that need to be handled carefully. Operators of decommissioned nuclear facilities need to plan for and execute decommissioning tasks safe in the knowledge that the automation, in this case the robots, through the use of periphery such as sensors, grippers, vision and control systems, can identify and measure parameters such as position – consider bin picking, moving contaminated material from one location to another, through to bolting down lids containing hazardous waste. Cost-effectiveness is another advantage.
Robots can be programmed to perform specific tasks, which reduces the need for human operators. In such niche areas, cost of labour is extremely high – comprising individuals with specific industry knowledge that also demand high salaries owing to the dangers posed when working within such precarious environments. Cost of ownership of automated cells is also often reduced when compared with manual labour.
REMOTE CONTROL It’s also worth pointing out the benefits associated with remote operation. Tere
are robotic systems that can be operated remotely, which enables workers to control their functionalities from a safe distance and avoid exposure to hazardous radioactive conditions. Tese take the form of joystick control and are so advanced in their ongoing development that they can be tailored to include force feedback, zoning and collision avoidance features as well as a quick tool changeover functions. As the decommissioning facilities/locations can be in receipt of a large array of contaminated waste including cables, wires, hoses, swarf, drums and containers, the robots need to be very versatile so that the operators can handle whatever type of waste is placed on the sorting table. Using robots in decommissioning activities at nuclear facilities has proven to help to increase safety, efficiency and precision while reducing costs and worker exposure to contamination. Such technologies are also helping to provide solutions into other waste sorting environments, such as municipal waste sorting and management plants. Whilst the dangers posed to workers aren’t as severe, circular economy and sustainability goals being delivered by authorities across the UK are gradually being met thanks to automated robot processes.
Katherine Nowill is with KUKA Robotics.
www.kuka.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
