Shielded glove box with radioactive sample automated transfer system

Year of manufacture: 2021

Customer: SC SGChE

 

Sosny R&D Company developed two facilities for the safe preparation and micrographic examination of the radioactive samples of mixed uranium-plutonium nitride (MUPN) fuel in the analytical laboratory of the Fabrication/Refabrication Plant at the Experimental and Demonstration Power Facility.

Each facility includes:

  • a Carl Zeiss Sigma 300 field-emission scanning electron microscope with an integrated EDS system for microanalysis,
  • a shielded ventilated glove box enabling fully automated transfer of the samples from the shielded containers to the specimen chamber of the microscope and vice versa,
  • a local control system,
  • a radiation monitoring system,
  • a distribution cabinet,
  • ducts to arrange the cable lines at the desired height in the space between the glove box and the room wall,
  • transport and handling equipment (shielded containers, a container for collection and temporary storage of the spent plastic bags arising in operation, a transport trolley for manual transportation of containers).

The body of the shielded glove box and external equipment are located on the base frame, which also carries two independent lifting units to raise the shielded containers to two airlocks. The radioactive contents transfer from shielded containers into the glove box and vice versa occurs via two container ports without deteriorating the glove box tightness. The container lifting, coupling to the glove box, and leak test of the coupling are controlled automatically.

MUPN fuel specimens are located in the sample holders during transportation in the shielded container and during an examination. One sample holder contains up to four specimens. After coupling the shielded container to the glove box, the sample holders are taken out of the container using the manipulator with the grip and arranged on the sample holder platform. The grip movements are controlled with ultrasonic sensors. The sample holders are inserted/removed into/from the specimen chamber of the microscope through the airlock using the rod. The sample holders are unloaded from the shielded container, loaded into the specimen chamber and back to the shielded container in fully automatic mode.

Manual in-box operations are performed using five glove ports. The equipment can be inserted or removed into/from the glove box through a maintenance hatch.

The box protection system prevents the exposure of the personnel to the ionizing radiation emitted by the samples in the glove box and the specimen chamber. This system features a steel frame with a three-layer biological shielding attached: a 3-mm lead sheet and two 15-mm polyethylene sheets. Organic glass windows and closing lids for glove ports are provided in the design of the shielding.

The glove box is equipped with the input and exhaust ventilation systems with fine filters В-0,4 TU 95 2314-98. The glove box equipment includes the instruments to monitor the air negative pressure, in-box temperature, volumetric activity, and isotope composition of aerosols.

The supply of decontaminants, compressed air and water, nitrogen and argon-methane mixture required for the microscope operation is provided.  Decontaminants are removed through the drain with a detachable trap. A vacuum dust-cleaning device is used for dry decontamination of the internal surfaces and equipment of the glove box.

The sample reloading is observed remotely and recorded with video cameras.

 

Specifications :

Designation to NP-016-05  3N 
Operating medium   air 
Overall dimensions of the glove box without microscope (LxWxH)   2500×2240×2900 mm 
Wall thickness   minimum 4 mm 
Vacuum gauge pressure produced by the ventilation inside the box  minimum 200 Pa 
Filter efficiency  minimum 99.995 % 
In-box air temperature  maximum 30 °С  
Equivalent dose rate at any point of the glove box external surface   maximum 6 µSv/h 

Equipment operating conditions

  ambient temperature

   relative humidity 

 

from 20 °С to 30 °С

maximum 80 % 

Number of windows 
Number of glove ports 
Illuminance of the working area  minimum 500 lx 
Main structural material  12X18H10T steel 

 

 

 

Views count: 359

Перезвоните мне
Спасибо! Ваша сообщение отправлено, в ближайшее время мы свяжемся с Вами!