A good example of our track record and the flexibility and safety of the system in adapting to various situations relates to the decommissioning of over 60 glove boxes used for mixed oxide fuel fabrication for over 20 years.
This work was carried out ‘in situ’ at Winfrith
Technology Centre; the proving ground for the system
and associated procedures. The work involved
progressively dismantling, decontaminating and
packing a variety of small glove boxes and larger fixed
installations including ball mills, a heavy press and
several furnaces. The furnace, standing over 2m high,
was enclosed in an MCS fitted with a waste port and
shower tunnel and sealed with a strippable coating in
preparation for decommissioning. The furnace was
dismantled and size reduced by operators in full airfed
suits and the waste drummed for disposal. On
completion the containment was cleared and sprayed
with a final tie-down coating in readiness to accept a
number of smaller glove boxes for size reduction and
disposal.
The two year programme was completed to time and cost. The containments were dismantled and cleaned ready for the final phase of work.
A containment was constructed adjacent to the laboratory pressurised suit area to fulfil two important functions:
The work was completed safely with ModuCon® playing a key role in decontamination and decommissioning operations: providing a safe and productive environment for workers and machines alike. The area occupied by this lab is now a green field site.
Clients
Besides using ModuCon® in our own projects and operations, our clients include all the major British nuclear licensed site operators, regulators and associated Government departments as well as key customers from other industries. Current and past clients include: