Laser cutting system for nuclear fuel disassembly Page: 8 of 24
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highly radioactive and also generate heat. This neutron activation
also creates dimensional changes in the fuel assembly that cause
bowing, swelling, and twisting.
The following environmental problem and system design criteria
were established by ORNL to evaluate any cutting technique for
roving hardware from spent fuel assemblies.
1. Due to the radioactivity generated by spent fuel assemblies,
the cutting system must be operated and maintained inside a
shielded hot-cell facility. The system should be of a modularized
design to facilitate remote removal and replacement of any
portion of the system using teleoperated servomanipulators and
closed-circuit television. Alignment and maintenance of
equipment in a hot-cell using hands-on methods is not
permitted.
2. The amount of dross, or cut material lost to the general
environment of the hot cell, should be minimized.
3. The cutting system must be capable of reliable remote oper-
ation while performing in a radiochemical environment. This
environment may have an ambient temperature fran 20 to 40*C,
30 to 50% relative humidity, nitrogen with less than 3%
oxygen, and vapors of nitric acid, NO, and NO2'
4. The amount of fissionable fuel (contained inside the fuel
rods) vaporized or otherwise lost to the hot-cell environment
should be minimized.
5. Any expendables required by the cutting system, including
degradable components, gases, and fluids, should be minimized
so not to add significantly to the decontamination and waste
conditions already inherent in the disassebly operation.
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Weil, B.S. Laser cutting system for nuclear fuel disassembly, article, January 1, 1985; Tennessee. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1060470/m1/8/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.