Examples of robots and teleoperators at the Savannah River Site

The Savannah River Site manufactures nuclear materials for the US Department of Energy. In recent years robots and mobile teleoperators have been used to reduce the radiation exposure of personnel at this site. Two examples of robots that have significantly reduced radiation exposure are the Shielded Cells Waste Handling Robot and the Shielded Cells Sample Handling Robot. The Shielded Cells Waste Handling Robot has been in operation for over four years. It removes cans of radioactive waste from the Shielded Cells, seals the can in a plastic bag, and places the cans in a waste drum. The Shielded Cells Sample Handling Robot has been in operation for only a few months. It opens a door to one of the Shielded Cells, removes a radioactive sample from a shielded container, laces it in the cell, and closes the door. Two examples of tasks where mobile teleoperators have significantly reduced radiation exposure are removal of a contaminated junction box, and lead removal from radioactive vessels. In the first example, radioactive liquid had leaked into an obsolete junction box. This caused the box to be internally contaminated to a level of 200 Rem/hr. at the surface. A mobile teleoperator was used to remove the box. In the second example, deionizer vessels must have the lead counterweights removed before the vessels can be properly buried. Radiation levels at the surface of these vessels measure as much as 5 Rem/hr. A mobile teleoperator was used to remove the lead counterweights from several of these vessels. 4 refs., 8 figs