Abstract
This paper describes the development of a submersible system based on a remote-operated vehicle coupled with radiation detectors to map the interior of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. It has the aim oflocating fuel debris. The AVEXIS submersible vehicle used in this study has been designed as a low-cost, potentially disposable, inspection platform that is the smallest of its class and is capable of being deployed through a 150 mm diameter access pipe. To map the gamma-ray environment, a cerium bromide scintillator detector with a small form factor has been incorporated into the AVEXIS to identify radioactive isotopes via gamma-ray spectroscopy. This provides the combined system with the potential to map gamma-ray spectra and particle locations throughout submerged, contaminated facilities, such as Units 1, 2 and 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The hypothesis of this research is to determine the sensitivity of the combined system in a submerged environment that replicates the combination of gamma radiation and water submersion but at lower dose rates.
Highlights
After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011, many projects have been started with the aim of completing remote inspection and characterization of the inside of the stricken reactors [1]
Due to the evacuation of the surrounding area and flooding of the primary containment vessels (PCV), little is known of the current physical state of the reactor cores inside the PCVs of reactors 1, 2 and 3
The Aqua Vehicle Explorer for In-situ Sensing (AVEXIS) vehicle was developed in the United Kingdom as part of a project to characterize the Sellafield Legacy ponds [3]
Summary
After the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident in 2011, many projects have been started with the aim of completing remote inspection and characterization of the inside of the stricken reactors [1]. It was designed for characterization and monitoring of the Sellafield legacy ponds in hard-to-reach areas [3]. Left and right motion occurs through the central axis; the turning radius is half the length of the ROV This makes the AVEXIS highly maneuverable, consistent with the requirement for characterization of hard-to-access areas. Powerline technology often found in homes has been adapted for use in the AVEXIS, to constitute a custom Power Over Ethernet (POE) system capable of 200 Mbps transfer speeds This is more than enough for High-definition (HD) live camera feed and instantaneous control of the ROV. The I/O electronics for the AVEXIS are designed around an ATMEGA 32U4, commonly found on an Arduino Leonardo
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