Developed to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels, Robot Named RCVD Promises to Revolutionize and Enhance Safety in the Nuclear Fuel Sector

Written by Ruth Rodrigues

Published on 31/01/2023 at 22:16

Foto: CSIRO

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Union of Three Major Companies in the Field Promotes Development of RCVD Robot, Created to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels in Nuclear Fuel Tanks.

Soon, an autonomous floating robot will play a crucial role in the inspection of nuclear fuel used worldwide. The robot, named Robotized Cherenkov Viewing Device (RCVD), was born from a collaboration between data from the Australian national scientific agency CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation), Hungarian robotics company Datastart, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This project aims to measure radiation levels in tanks containing nuclear fuels.

Cherenkov, Nuclear Fuels, and Production: RCVD Robot Will Provide More Detailed Analyses and Enhance Safety for Workers

The robot, operated using autonomy enabling software developed by Data61 (digital specialist arm) of CSIRO, navigates autonomously through a nuclear fuel storage tank while updating a real-time map with images and data on Cherenkov radiation from the fuel assemblies.

As explained in the IAEA statement, Cherenkov radiation is a form of observable energy appearing as a blue glow produced by electrons and protons.

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Operational Safety Is an Important Factor

A prototype of the robot successfully completed a test at an operating nuclear power plant in South America.

The RCVD prototype navigated through a used fuel tank and provided inspectors with real-time data that can be used for safeguard verification.

The prototype will continue in the testing phase, but plans are in place for the device to be equipped with computer vision to enhance autonomy in the next phase of development.

“The test demonstrates that autonomous robots will soon assist in measuring and analyzing irradiated nuclear fuel. Providing greater protection to workers. Inspectors currently operate above the reservoir on a suspended platform, sometimes in 40-degree Celsius heat. Using a portable device to identify hundreds of used nuclear fuel rods. Thus, this new technology will remove humans from the path of danger and ensure that the value of safety inspections matches that of nuclear materials,” said Rosie Attwell, the technical program manager at CSIRO.

Meanwhile, IAEA Technology Survey Specialist, Dimitri Finker, stated that the use of an autonomous system will reduce the difficulty of conducting field verifications for the professional overseeing the facility and for the agency.

“It also significantly improves the quality of the data collected. The instrument can be ideally positioned near the fuel, leading to more consistent and accurate measurements,” he stated.

Currently, safety inspectors need to use a small portable optical instrument called the Enhanced Cherenkov Viewing Device (ICVD).

It is suspended above a nuclear fuel pool and examines manually through a lens. The RCVD robot will facilitate and protect employees from the radiation emitted from the storage.

Developed to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels, Robot Named RCVD Promises to Revolutionize and Enhance Safety in the Nuclear Fuel Sector

Union of Three Major Companies in the Field Promotes Development of RCVD Robot, Created to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels in Nuclear Fuel Tanks.

Cherenkov, Nuclear Fuels, and Production: RCVD Robot Will Provide More Detailed Analyses and Enhance Safety for Workers

Operational Safety Is an Important Factor

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Developed to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels, Robot Named RCVD Promises to Revolutionize and Enhance Safety in the Nuclear Fuel Sector

Union of Three Major Companies in the Field Promotes Development of RCVD Robot, Created to Measure Cherenkov Radiation Levels in Nuclear Fuel Tanks.

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Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

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