COVER STORY | DRAGON’S ROBOTIC ROAR
Above left: Laser cutting the top ring of the thermal shield in July 2024
Above right: The reactor core segmentation machine (RCSM) during site decommissioning trials
Remote segmentation begins
NRS’s team of operators began remotely dismantling the upper shielding structures in July 2024. Although segmentation of the 50-tonne top ring thermal shield surrounding the top of the reactor has presented a unique and significant challenge to the Dragon team, the partial removal of this is nearly complete and will then allow access to be gained to the reactor itself. Since the operational phase began, approximately 28
tonnes of waste have been recovered and exported from the facility. Segmentation of the top ring thermal shield and reactor pressure vessel neck required removal of over 120 individual items. Overall, the laser cutting system and reactor core segmentation machine have proven to be a remarkably capable engineering solution in the hands of the Dragon team.. It is anticipated that Iapproximately 22 waste packages will arise during the lifetime of this project. These will be intermittently transported to the NRS Harwell site in Oxford for interim storage until the UK’s national Geological Disposal Facility is available for permanent disposal.
Operational excellence Guided by the Engineering team the Dragon reactor laser operators are responsible for configuring the system to optimise each cutting operation. Their expertise has already been demonstrated with the successful removal of the reactor pressure vessel neck, marking a significant milestone in the reactor dismantling process. The team continue to refine the application of the system
in preparation to breach the reactor core later on this year. Significant challenges are anticipated as work continues, particularly with precise manoeuvring of the machine near core structures to cut components. Additional tools have been developed to provide
valuable insights: ● A virtual reality system that allows non-engineering
staff to quickly grasp component shapes and dimensions.
● Digital twin functionality is now implemented which provides a real time graphical representation of the RCSM within the core environment based on real time positional feedback.
● Despite these advances, the success of the operation will heavily depend on the expertise of the team to navigate the confined core space without damaging or trapping the equipment.
Above: Dragon reactor mock-up at Winfrith site 20 | October 2025 |
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Cutting edge decommissioning The primary objective of the Dragon reactor dismantling project is to demonstrate how this process can be made more efficient and pave the way for the future use of laser cutting in nuclear decommissioning. Evaluating the experience already gained, it is clear that use of robotic laser cutting presents a transformative opportunity to streamline segmentation processes, increase operational efficiency, and improve safety in reactor core dismantling. As the project moves forward, it is hoped that the insights gained from Dragon will not only contribute to the safe and efficient decommissioning of this reactor but also set a precedent for future projects. By demonstrating the effectiveness of laser cutting in this demanding field, the project team aim to establish it as a standard method in nuclear decommissioning, ultimately making the process safer, faster, and more cost-effective. ■
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