[en] This paper presents the design of a multiservice utility plug and drive system to be used for reliably engaging and disengaging automatically all utility connections that serve large portable equipment modules. The modules are arranged into a fuel processing production line within the Fuels and Materials examination Laboratory. The utility plugs allow the modules to be easily replaced, rearranged, or removed for maintenance

[en] High levels of radioactive materials have been handled at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL) during essentially its entire existence. This work has been in support of the various LASL research programs and is described in four categories: the preparation and use of sources as hydrodynamic tracers, the handling of developmental reactor fuel and components, general-purpose hot cells, and remote handling features associated with specialized facilities. 27 refs

[en] A maintenance glove box, which has been installed in the equipment repair complex of the Hot Fuel Examination Facility/North (HFEF/N) for repairing sealed master-slave manipulator arms, increases personnel efficiency, reduces manpower requirements, and reduces personnel exposure to radiation. The transfer of a manipulator arm into the glove box is accomplished remotely, thus eliminating the need for a bagged transfer to a repair area. Also, the glove box provides 360-deg access to the manipulator from a clean area, eliminates the need for repair personnel to wear anticontamination clothing, and makes continuous coverage by health physicists unnecessary during repairs

[en] The need for pool-site inspection and examination of fuel assemblies was recognized by Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft with the commissioning of the first nuclear power stations. A wet sipping method has demonstrated high reliability in detection of leaking fuel assemblies. The visual inspection system is a versatile tool. It can be supplemented by attaching devices for oxide thickness measurement or surface replication. Repair of leaking pressurized water reactor fuel assemblies has improved fuel utilization. Applied methods and typical results are described

[en] As nuclear reactors have become more numerous, examination requirements have become more stringent and examination equipment more sophisticated. Remotely operated examination systems have made it possible to examine areas not accessible manually and have improved repeatability and accuracy over manual examinations. Southwest Research Institute has developed several remote inspection systems for examination from both the inside and outside surfaces of the reactor pressure vessel

[en] The Element Bow and Length Measurement System measures the bow of irradiated elements while they are suspended vertically in space. The system is a noncontact system using light beams to determine element position. By measuring the position of the element in space at a series of axial positions and determining the coordinates of the element tip-to-tip centerline, the direction and magnitude of the bow at each measurement point is determined

[en] A facility is being built at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to reduce and package waste for 20-y retrievable storage. This waste is in the form of 488 m (1600 ft) of plutonium-contaminated glove boxes. The facility will incorporate a stainless-steel enclosure, along with remote handling equipment, to obtain an estimated 4:1 volume reduction of the waste

[en] Increased emphasis on lowering personnel radiation exposures to as low as reasonably achievable and on containment of radioactive materials influenced a special emphasis on remotely operated sampling systems for the New Waste Calcining Facility (NWCF). Work done by Allied Chemical Corporation in designing and testing remote solid, liquid, and gas sampling systems for the NWCF is described. Work also included a transfer system for transferring samples to an analytical facility. Remote maintenance capabilities were designed into the system so that any failure-prone component or subassembly could be remotely removed and replaced

[en] A small electric melter was developed to implement studies for converting radioactive waste to glass at the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL). The ceramic-lined, joule-heated melter has been in operation for ten months. During this period, simulated high-level waste, calcined materials, and frit were processed at rates of 2 to 15 g/min. The melt chamber is 7.6 cm wide, 22.9 cm long, and 7.6 cm deep. The total power consumption is 3.5 kVa when the glass processing temperature is 1150⁰C. A similar unit will be in operation in FY 1979 in the SRL high-level cells

[en] The radiation environment within the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) vacuum vessel necessitates the development of a Remote Manipulator System (RMS) to perform required periodic inspection and maintenance tasks. The RMS must be able to perform dexterous operations and handle loads that exceed human capabilities. The limited size of the access ports on the TFTR vacuum vessel and the performance profile, defined by the various handling requirements, present unique design constraints. The design approach and formulation of an RMS configuration that satisfies TFTR requirements is presented