Digitalised Autonomous System for Nuclear Waste Sort and Segregation

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.