ViridiScope®: field-testing an innovative new sampling tool for the nuclear market

ViridiScope®是一种用于表征核污染的创新取样工具。它的设计目的是允许对混凝土、塑料、木材、石膏和砖等表面进行安全、清洁和快速的取样，以检测各种放射性核素和元素特性。ViridiScope®坚固耐用，便携性强，专为高活动区域而设计。它可以手动操作或部署在远程操作的车辆上，并可用于代替传统的钻孔，以从表面去除材料。Viridian Consultants一直与最终用户塞拉菲尔德有限公司合作，使我们能够在现场的非活动区域展示ViridiScope®。这种经验使我们能够更快地访问其他最终用户，但证实它不会自动打开通往其他网站的大门。其目的是克服对变革的抵制，这是核工业中普遍存在的一个重大障碍，从而使人们接受这一新方法。现场测试将向公司表明，该工具适合目的，可以在现实世界中提供面向用户的项目，并具有广泛应用领域所需的性能。我们计划通过向正在进行表征活动的SLC提供ViridiScope®现场部署一段时间，并提供商业现场计数设备、培训和支持，使他们能够在高放射性水平的活动操作环境中全面测试和评估采样工具。它将表明，这种技术可以提供相当大的优势，传统的方法，提供表征迅速，最低的成本和最少的努力。英国核退役管理局致力于加快英国遗留核设施的退役，预计未来120年将耗资1170亿英镑。塞拉菲尔德的业务和技术经理Mark Dowson建议，使用ViridiScope®，将低放废物（LLW）与中放废物（ILW）分离所节省的费用最终可以为塞拉菲尔德有限公司节省数十美元，如果不是数亿英镑的话Viridian的创新核表征传感器将被部署在运营和退役的核电站中，以促进安全，负担得起和可持续的核能输送。Viridian Consultants的愿景是开发颠覆性创新，并成为核表征传感器的“Go To”公司。ViridiScope®的成功商业化是我们最终实现行业认可和进入市场的关键。

ViridiScope® is an innovative sampling tool for characterisation of nuclear contamination. It is designed to permit the safe, clean and fast sampling of surfaces such as concrete, plastic, wood, plaster and brick for a wide range of radionuclides and for elemental characterisation. ViridiScope® is robust and highly portable, and has been designed to be taken into high activity areas. It can be operated manually or deployed on a remotely operated vehicle and can be used in place of conventional drilling to remove material from a surface. Viridian Consultants has been working in partnership with end-user, Sellafield Ltd, which has allowed us to demonstrate ViridiScope® in a non-active area on site. That experience has set us in good stead to access the other end-users more rapidly but confirmed that it does not automatically open doors to other sites. The aim is to overcome resistance to change, a significant barrier that is endemic in the nuclear industry, and thus gain acceptance of this new approach. Field testing will show companies that the tool is fit for purpose and can deliver in real-world, user-facing projects with the performance needed for a wide range of application areas. We plan to do this by providing the SLCs undergoing characterisation activities with the use of a ViridiScope® on-site for a period of deployment with an ROV, commercial in-situ counting equipment, training and support to allow them to fully test and assess the sampling tool in an active operational environment with high levels of radioactivity. It will show that this technology can offer considerable advantage over conventional approaches, delivering characterisation rapidly, at least cost and with least effort. The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is committed to speeding up the decommissioning of the UK’s legacy nuclear sites which is forecast to cost £117bn over the next 120 years; Sellafield’s Business and Technology Manager Mark Dowson, has suggested that, using ViridiScope®, the savings from separating Low level Waste (LLW) from Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) could ultimately save Sellafield Ltd tens, if not hundreds of £million. Viridian’s innovative nuclear characterisation sensors will be deployed in operating and decommissioning nuclear power plants to contribute to the secure, affordable and sustainable delivery of nuclear energy. The vision is for Viridian Consultants to develop disruptive innovation and become the ‘Go To’ company for nuclear characterisation sensors. The successful commercialisation of ViridiScope® is the key to our ultimate goal of industry acceptance and a route to market.