DEVICE TO UPRIGHT FALLEN WASTE CANISTERS AT THE WVDP

WE HAVE FORMULATED A DESIGN CONCEPT FOR A PASSIVE MECHANICAL GRAPPLING DEVICE TO UPRIGHT 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 DIRECT COMPONENT COSTS BUT ALSO ADDS 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 ELEMENT OF DESIGN TO RELIABILITY OF A COMPONENT. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL PROVIDE A DESIGN WHICH IS NOT ONLY SIMPLE BUT PASSIVE. THE DEVICE WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM A BRIDGE CRANE AND WILL REQUIRE NO OTHER SOURCE OF POWER THAN THE CRANE ITSELF.