Automated transport of nuclear packages

Project

Automated Transport of SNM Packages

Benefits

Benefits include:

• Reduced need for manual operations.

• Reduced cost based on wages, fuel and potentially time spent.

• Reduced logistical planning.

• Improved package monitoring during transports.

• Increased operational capability.

These benefits can also be deployed across the Enterprise, as sample transport and logistics is an agnostic challenge with a variety of possible use cases.

Current Status

Feasibility studies completed, currently reviewing proposals for concept studies to deliver demonstrator capability in 2025.

Delivery Partners

Digital Concepts Engineering Ltd, IDV Robotics Ltd, NNL

Contact Details

Ed MacNeil

innovation.team@sellafieldsites.com

As Sellafield Ltd progress our mission of safe operational clean-up, we have a requirement to provide secure storage facilities to house our SNM inventory. Legacy SNM stores coming close to their design life are due to be emptied, with the packages transferred into new purpose-built facilities. Therefore, we need to remove, in some cases repackage, and store our product packages in long-term storage facilities within the Sellafield site. Currently, stores transfers are carried out by manually placing the product packages within vehicles that then transfer the product across the Sellafield site.

This process typically takes place using drivers under armed escort. There is a challenge in recruiting and maintaining skills for a manual method of transferring packages. Therefore, the automation of this process has clear benefit for Sellafield Ltd. The SNM innovation team has used the Game Changers programme to perform seven feasibility studies exploring the automation of package transfers between stores on site. The objective was to identify any possible ways of automating this process, with a view to developing a solution in 3-5 years.

The outcome of the feasibility studies has shown that COTS solutions are available to deliver automated transport of SNM packages. These are already built to UK military security standards and fit within our current cyber requirements.

This 3-5 year planned project has shown that active demonstrators can be delivered within 18 months of project commencement. We are currently reviewing proposals for concept studies with the aim to deliver a demonstrator capability in 2025.