Yucca Mountain Waste Package Closure System Robotic Welding and Inspection System

• Published in: Nuclear technology Vol. 176; no. 1; pp. 138 - 146
• Main Authors: Nichol, C. I., Pace, D. P., Larsen, E. D., McJunkin, T. R., Clark, D. E., Clark, M. L., Skinner, K. L., Watkins, A. D., Smartt, H. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: La Grange Park, IL Taylor & Francis 01.10.2011; American Nuclear Society
• Subjects: Applied sciences; CLOSURES; CONTAINERS; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; ENGINEERING; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; MGMT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; NUCLEAR FUELS; RADIATIONS; radioactive waste; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; remote operations; SPENT FUEL STORAGE; SPENT FUELS; STORAGE; WASTES; WELDING; YUCCA MOUNTAIN; Yucca Mountain; United States; North America; Idaho; America; USA, Idaho; USA, Nevada, Yucca Mt; Radioactive waste; containment; Welding; Waste storage; High level radioactive waste; Inspection; robotic; Robotics; Spent fuel storage; Nuclear reactor; Weld
• ISSN: 0029-5450; 1943-7471
• DOI: 10.13182/NT11-A12548

The Waste Package Closure System, for the closure of radioactive waste in canisters for permanent storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste in the Yucca Mountain Repository, was designed, fabricated, and successfully demonstrated at the Idaho National Laboratory. This paper focuses on the robotic hardware and tools necessary to remotely weld and inspect the closure lid welds. The system was operated remotely and designed for use in a radiation field due to the SNF contained in the waste packages being closed.