32 Robotics
Robotic technology for nuclear decommissioning A
utomated robotics within the nuclear sector have historically been adopted to minimise operator
without becoming damaged or experiencing fatigue) can be implemented into nuclear environments, providing operational
robotics within a nuclear environment as the range of tasks to be attended is broad with both flexibility and dynamicity being
exposure to harmful radiation and ease the difficulties associated with accessing critical parts and/or contaminated
efficiencies that ultimately provide cost and time savings. These robots are also capable of undertaking tasks too harmful for humans
imperative.
equipment within a nuclear facility.
to manage on a cyclical basis.
Consideration of robotic technology should
Some of the robots that are available in
tools within a single robot cell, providing a multifunctional robot arm that can undertake several different tasks; changing between
also be given to repetitive tasks that require a consistent level of accuracy of execution – non-ergonomic tasks that impose a level of stress or risk upon a worker. Some of the key decommissioning activities include, but are not limited to; material handling, material size reduction, cutting, storage and sealing.
today’s market comprise a minimum of six axes, giving them the ability to perform several industrial tasks compared to robots with fewer axes. Six axes enable a robot to move in the x, y, and z planes – also known as six axes of freedom. Payload capacities also vary (the maximum load of which a robot can manage at full reach) from
bolting tools, swabbing tools, lid handling grippers, and size reduction tools such as saws or shears, to name just a few. Tool changing technology is commercially available – off-the-shelf equipment that has been used for many years in sectors such as the automotive industry. When not in use, the tools can be stored in tool racks and
The use of industrial robotics in the nuclear sector has now become almost commonplace. So much so that ‘off-theshelf’ solution robots designed to operate in harsh environments (robots engineered to withstand high levels of dust and/or
lightweight models as light as 3kg through to industrial machines that can manage a load of 1,300kg. A seventh axes can also be incorporated into a robotic cell by way of a linear track or overhead gantry that afford an increased diversity of movement. This
mating faces of the tooling, protected from any debris within any given environment. This flexibility improves efficiency as one robot can complete several operational tasks. Combining processes in one station can dramatically improve space savings, a critical
exposure to high heat and harsh chemicals
diversity is key when adopting automated
consideration in a process plant.
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It is possible to deploy several different
