SBIR-STTR Award

A design concept has been formulated for a mechanical grappling device to right fallen canisters of the type used at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP). In a process environment such as that of WVDP, systems components, themselves, ultimately become radioactive waste. As such, those components must perform reliably for the duration of the project. Replacement of faulty components not only adds to direct component costs but also to the indirect costs of decontamination and disposal of the faulty unit. Maintenance of a faulty unit can expose personnel to otherwise unnecessary exposure to radiation. Simplicity of design probably contributes more than any other design element to reliability of a component. The proposed research will provide a design that is not only simple but passive. The device will be suspended from a bridge crane and will require no source of power other than the crane itself.AnticipatedResults Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:A device to right fallen radioactive-waste containers can find application at the WVDP. In addition, other radioactive-waste processing facilities that use canisters of similar configuration might benefit from the device.

To ensure smooth operation in the hot cell at the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP), one must deal with the possibility of a waste canister falling in the cell. The proposed effort addresses that possibility, and it will provide a mechanism to upright a fallen canister from an arbitrary position. The Phase I portion of this effort yielded design parameters and test data, which verify the effectiveness of the grappling device. The device itself is entirely passive. The motion of the overhead crane located in the hot cell provides the only means necessary for the device to engage and upright a fallen canister. The simplicity of the design concept increases the reliability of the mechanism. The Phase II effort will provide for the WVDP a grappling device that can perform necessary service in the hotcell environment. Testing and certification of the device also will be included in the Phase II effort.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:The effort could provide WVDP a useful tool for handling the mischance of a fallen waste canister. The same tool also can provide some of the routine handling of canisters. Other facilities that handle canisters of similar configuration may benefit from this effort as well.