Digitalised Autonomous System for Nuclear Waste Sort and Segregation

当核电站进入退役阶段时，会产生大量的核废料。这些废物由一系列具有不同放射性含量和强度的材料组成，并含有其他污染物，需要以适当的方式进行分类和分离；使其能够长期储存、处置或循环再造。正如这项任务所表明的那样，废物需要进行检查、分类和移动。通过人际互动实现这一目标是昂贵、漫长和危险的。通过自主系统进行远程操作的机会，提供了克服这些限制的优势。该项目将开发、测试和验证一个集成系统的能力，该系统通过远程移动、处理和包装特定区域的废物，自主分类和隔离核废料堆。它将展示根据放射性分类和材料类型对废物进行分类的能力，其中将包括确定成分、大小、形状和材料表面积。此外，该系统将保持保留和检索准确记录的能力，这是安全长期储存核废料的根本。该项目将对重塑英国的核废料等级制度产生直接影响。该解决方案将有助于英国核电行业达成将退役成本降低20%的协议目标。它还将支持环境可持续性和安全，为《新发展纲领》的大挑战目标做出贡献；其中包括回收50%的退役废物，减少50%的人类退役活动。

When a nuclear power station enters the decommissioning phase a large amount of nuclear waste is generated. This waste, which is made up of a range of materials with differing radioactive content and intensity, as well as containing other contaminants, needs to be sorted and segregated in an appropriate way; enabling its long-term storage, disposal or for it to undergo recycling. As this task suggests the waste needs to be inspected, classified and moved. Achieving this through human interaction is costly, lengthy and hazardous. The opportunity for remote operations via autonomous systems, presents advantages that overcome these limitations.This project will develop, test and verify the capability of an integrated system to autonomously sort & segregate a nuclear waste pile by remotely moving, processing and packing waste items from a specific area. It will demonstrate the capability to sort waste items based upon radioactive classification and material type, which will include the determination of the composition, size, shape and material surface area. In addition, the system will maintain the capability to retain and retrieve accurate records, which is fundamental to the safe long-term storage of nuclear wastes.The project will have a direct impact on reshaping the UK's nuclear waste hierarchy. The solution will contribute to the UK's nuclear sector deal target of a 20% reduction in the costs of decommissioning. It will also support environmental sustainability and safety by contributing to the NDA grand challenge targets; that include a 50% of decommissioning waste being recycled and a 50% reduction in decommissioning activities carried out by humans.