ViridiScan: a novel mobile NDT sensor for nuclear decommissioning

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Viridian Consultants Limited

Collaborative Research & Development

Innovate UK

01 May 2015

30 April 2018

36 months

£330,178

South East

Competition Call: 1403_CRD2_ENE_GEN_DCNS - Developing the civil nuclear supply chain CRD. Activity Developing the civil nuclear supply chain ( CR&D)

Project Contact, Viridian Consultants Limited

Project Contact, Sellafield Limited

ViridiScan is a new tool for on-site, in-situ surface characterisation in nuclear decommissioning applications. It will allow rapid, cost-effective measurement of radionuclides in building materials and will result in considerable cost saving through the better segregation of waste. Currently, samples are removed from surfaces by drilling, exposing the operator to considerable dose and then sent to a laboratory for analysis. ViridiScan combines a proven laboratory technique for the measurement of isotopic composition with a new approach for removal of a sample from a contaminated surface using a laser. The laser head can be used to sample in confined spaces where conventional sampling is not possible. Limited depth profiling may also be possible so that the distribution of radionuclides within a material can be better understood. The need for human intervention at the sample face is removed providing a safer working environment.ViridiScan is a new tool for on-site, in-situ surface characterisation in nuclear decommissioning applications. It will allow rapid, cost-effective measurement of radionuclides in building materials and will result in considerable cost saving through the better segregation of waste. Currently, samples are removed from surfaces by drilling, exposing the operator to considerable dose and then sent to a laboratory for analysis. ViridiScan combines a proven laboratory technique for the measurement of isotopic composition with a new approach for removal of a sample from a contaminated surface using a laser. The laser head can be used to sample in confined spaces where conventional sampling is not possible. Limited depth profiling may also be possible so that the distribution of radionuclides within a material can be better understood. The need for human intervention at the sample face is removed providing a safer working environment.

07/12/15