Project Detail
Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) is a business unit of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority who have a mission to enable complex operations in the most challenging environments there are whilst ensuring that operators, the public and the environment are protected from hazards. The disposal of radioactive waste is just such a challenge, and RACE are at the forefront of introducing robotic technology to make it safer and more efficient.
The Active Cells is a remotely operated facility doing just that. It will dispose of radioactive waste generated by the European Spallation Source (ESS) – a multi-disciplinary research facility based on the world’s most powerful neutron source. ESS has been under construction in Sweden since 2014 and with the civil construction nearing completion, more and more equipment is being installed.
RACE is responsible for definition, design and delivery of all equipment to ensure that the Active Cells is fully up and running in time for the start of operations at ESS. The project is part of the UK Government’s ‘In-Kind’ contribution to the ESS facility, providing support to the construction to secure a long-term stake in the facility.
To do so, they are working with multiple subcontractors all designing in parallel to meet the project deadlines. The equipment delivered will include two radiation resistant gantry cranes: one deploying a remotely latching grapple, and one deployed a pair of robotic manipulators via a 14 m long telescopic mast.
All the equipment to process and package the radioactive waste must be able to be operated and maintained by these cranes, as well as being able to survive in radiation levels that would be fatal to humans in a few minutes. The equipment includes radiation shielding doors with masses of up to 140 tonnes, diamond wire cutting stations to allow the waste to be cut into a manageable size and an integrated control system which allows operation of the facility from the safety of a control room.
The management and coordination of the subcontractors delivering each piece of equipment is vital to the project’s success. All the equipment must work together for the facility to do its job, and each piece of equipment must be delivered in a phased schedule to allow the complex installation to take place.
CEMAR has been a key tool in allowing RACE to achieve this. The packages have been managed through CEMAR, with a consistency of reporting and notification, allowing responsive and organised project delivery, prioritising actions and concluding issues in a timely manner.
The flow of the documents within CEMAR has allowed for easy completion of notifications and instructions, as well as keeping a record of all correspondance in one place which can easily be searched at a later date. Overall, CEMAR has assisted in making the NEC suite of contracts easier to administer.
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