Smart sensors for the 100 year can

Project

Long-term storage of SNM packages

Benefits

The implementation of smart sensors will reduce the number of inspections required over the lifetime of the packages, in turn reducing the dose to operators as they will be performing manual inspections less often.

There will be increased confidence in the condition of packages without the need for manual inspection and allow for any potential issues to be identified earlier, enabling swifter responses. Combined, these benefits will assist in maintaining the integrity and safe storage of the packages.

Current Status

The project has been approved to move into the final delivery stage and trials. The next steps are to refine the design against specific handling, measurement and environmental requirements for the 100 year can.

Delivery Partners

Sensor Driven Ltd, Game Changers, FIS360 Ltd

Contact Details

Paul Mort

technical.innovation@sellafieldsites.com

SNM packages need to be inspected on a regular basis to identify any possible issues that may affect the package integrity. The inspections can be performed in-situ or ex-situ and can be difficult to carry out and result in a radiation dose to operators.

Package pressure and temperature have been identified as the most important measurements to indicate any possible issues with the package. By installing smart sensors onto the packages before they go into the store, we can wirelessly monitor the packages through a central hub which will be notified if any of the packages show an abnormal reading in terms of pressure and temperature. This will reduce the need for human intervention within the stores, saving dose uptake.

Sensor Driven, selected through the Game Changers framework, have proven that communication is possible from the sensors inside of a channel to a central hub, providing detailed cannister data for decades without sensor maintenance. Sensors are now being prepared for trials in an active SNM store.