Salt concentration measurement Game Changers challenge.pdf

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Challenge aimsSellafield are seeking innovative solutions that will enable the measurement of salt concentration on the TMA support structure in the lower plenum.Solutions must be capable of deployment into the vaults via vertical air ducts which contain a series of bends.Solutions should be capable of deployment once Proof of Concept has been established within the next 18 – 24 months. Proposals for solutions which address part, or all of this challenge, are invited. Applications solely describing salt measurement technology are welcome, as are applications solely describing potential deployment solutions.Find out morePlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.A challenge briefing webinar will take place during October and details of how to register will be published shortly.The closing date for applications is Friday 18th November at 12 noon.

Salt concentration measurement

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From cleaning-up the country’s highest nuclear risks and hazards to safeguarding nuclear fuel, materials and waste, Sellafield Ltd’s mission is nationally important.As they approach the completion of reprocessing and the site changes to decommissioning activities, Sellafield Ltd are increasingly focussed on environmental remediation and waste management.Research and development (R&amp;D) is fundamental to the delivery of their mission.&nbsp;New technologies and techniques can improve safety, security and reduce costs, timescales and environmental impact.Sellafield Ltd work in four value streams, prioritising efforts and maximising value:<ul><li>Retrievals: Sellafield Ltd are retrieving nuclear waste, fuel and sludge that are stored inside their legacy ponds and silos, the highest risks and hazards at Sellafield</li><li>Remediation: beyond the legacy ponds and silos, Sellafield Ltd have hundreds of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities that need to be cleaned-up</li><li>Spent nuclear fuel management: Sellafield Ltd are moving towards storing fuel instead of reprocessing it</li><li>Special nuclear materials: Sellafield Ltd have the facilities and expertise to provide safe, secure and appropriate storage for special nuclear materials</li></ul><h3>To support these value streams, Sellafield Ltd are particularly interested in innovation in these areas:</h3>

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At Sellafield, the birthplace of the UK’s nuclear industry, there are a diverse range of buildings and structures located on a complex site with an area of six square kilometers. Many of these buildings are ageing and effective monitoring and maintenance is fundamental to operating both safely and cost-effectively.The Vitrified Product Store (VPS) was built to store containers of vitrified waste. It is a passively cooled store, using the heat generated by the store contents to draw a cold air stream into the store through a set of cooling air ducts. Sellafield is in a coastal location, so the air surrounding the VPS is humid and salt-laden. The drawn-in air is not conditioned, and therefore the moisture and salt content have the potential to cause corrosion inside the store.The VPS contains a mild steel and stainless steel structure referred to as the Tube Module Assembly (TMA). Man access in the proximity of the TMA is not possible, therefore Sellafield would like to explore different techniques and technologies to allow the remote measurement of salt concentrations on the TMA. This will help to develop an understanding of the corrosion occurring inside the VPS and to inform the design of future storage facilities.

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore techniques and technologies to allow the remote measurement of salt concentrations within a hazardous environment with constrained access

UAVs in confined spaces challenge statement.pdf

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Challenge AimsAs decommissioning activity on the Sellafield site accelerates, the aspiration is to develop a UAV deployment toolkit that could be tailored to meet the needs of specific challenges as and when they arise. Sellafield are seeking a UAV platform that is capable of:<ul><li>Carrying visualisation equipment</li><li>Deployment through vertical or horizontal inspection ports without the requirement for significant reconfiguration. Ports are typically 140mm in diameter, through concrete up to 1.5m thick</li><li>Providing the operator with its position in real time</li><li>Operating in an entirely consistent and predicable manner in order to build stakeholder confidence</li></ul>Find out morePlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.A challenge briefing webinar will take place on Tuesday 18th October from 12 - 1.30pm.Attendance is free. If you'd like to attend the event, please register on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/game-changers-webinar-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-in-confined-spaces-tickets-429802670357" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>.The closing date for applications is Friday 18th November at 12 noon.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in confined spaces

There are hundreds of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities which need to be cleaned up on the Sellafield site. Manual decommissioning of Sellafield’s facilities is hazardous for operators and extremely time consuming. Opportunities to undertake decommissioning activities faster, more safely and at a reduced cost are constantly being explored.Sellafield would like to make use of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that can access hazardous facilities whilst carrying a range of sensors and other analytical tools, to facilitate safer and cheaper decommissioning. The aim of this challenge is to develop a UAV modular toolkit that can be easily tailored for deployment in a wide variety of decommissioning scenarios.

Sellafield Ltd would like to support the development of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platform capable of carrying equipment to capture visualisation data, that can be deployed in confined spaces

Nuclear materials stores inspection - corrosion 3.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSSellafield are seeking innovative solutions that provide:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Non-Destructive Evaluation to establish the depth of pitting into the surface of structures caused by corrosion</li><li class="ql-align-justify">In-situ chemical analysis of corrosion products on both aluminium and stainless-steel structures</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Measurement of the depth of corrosion in aluminium and stainless-steel structures using a technique that does not require extensive surface preparation</li><li class="ql-align-justify">The means to remove solid samples from corrosion deposits for later analysis. In some cases, the location of the deposits is already known.&nbsp;It would be helpful to know the precise location from which any samples are taken</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Sampling of salt deposits on structures within the SPRS cells</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Sampling of dripping liquors and measurement of drip rate within the cells of the SPRS</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Measurement of temperature of the aluminium channels and surrounding air</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Measurement of humidity of the air local to the aluminium channels</li></ul>Sellafield are seeking solutions that can be rapidly deployed via the inspection ports at the top of the store once Proof of Concept has been established.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.A challenge briefing webinar will take place on Tuesday 8th November from 1.30pm - 3pm.Attendance is free. If you'd like to attend the event, please register on <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/game-changers-webinar-snm-stores-inspection-corrosion-tickets-412968789767" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>.The closing date for this challenge is 24th November at 12 noon.

SNM stores inspection - corrosion

Sellafield’s mission to create a safe environment for future generations requires the secure storage of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) within a purpose-built store for a duration of approximately 100 years.&nbsp;The Sellafield site is in a coastal location so the air surrounding the store is humid and salt-laden.&nbsp;Store ventilation is provided by the natural convection of unfiltered air and it is known that the moisture and salt in the air are causing corrosion of steel and aluminium structures within the store.&nbsp;﻿Sellafield are seeking solutions that will improve their understanding of the in-store corrosion situation, including physical and chemical analysis of corrosion and reproducible sampling in this difficult to access environment.

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore opportunities to improve their understanding of the corrosion of a supporting steel framework inside a difficult to access store environment

Special nuclear materials package inspection ex-situ 2.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSThe challenge owners at Sellafield are seeking a solution that provides accurate and reproducible positioning for the capture of images of the entire surface of each SNM package during ex-situ inspection.&nbsp;This includes the top and bottom of the cylinder as well as the sides.&nbsp;Such solutions might target the precise rotation of the SNM package or provide an image capture system that does not require rotation of the SNM package.There are a number of physical characteristics that are of interest and must be captured by any proposed imaging system.&nbsp;Full details of these are provided in the Functional Requirements section of the challenge statement.Sellafield ideally require a solution that can be deployed within approximately one year of successful completion of a Proof of Concept project.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.A challenge briefing webinar will take place on Tuesday 8th November from 10am - 11.30am. Details of an additional distinct 'SNM package inspections - in-situ' challenge will also be given during this time.Attendance is free. If you'd like to attend the event, please register via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/game-changers-webinar-snm-package-inspections-ex-situ-tickets-412957265297" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>.The closing date for this challenge is 24th November at 12 noon.

SNM package inspections - ex-situ

Sellafield Ltd is responsible for the storage of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) that are a legacy of 60 years of reprocessing activities on the Sellafield site.&nbsp;To provide confidence that SNM packages remain safe for continued storage within Sellafield’s stores, it is necessary to obtain reproducible visual images of the entire exterior of the packages.&nbsp;This is performed ex-situ and does not require radiation hardened equipment. The aim is to identify structural changes through storage of precisely located visual images that can be referenced against at points in the future to monitor change.&nbsp;The essence of this challenge is to find a precise, reproducible and possibly automated method for gathering inspection images.

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore opportunities for the capture of accurate and reproducible images of the entire surface of SNM packages during ex-situ inspection.&nbsp;This includes the top and bottom of the cylinder as well as the sides

Special Nuclear Materials package inspections - in situ 2.pdf

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CHALLENGE AIMSSellafield are seeking a solution that:<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Provides accurate and reproducible capture of images in precise locations on the surface of SNM packages whilst resident in the store</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Is able to image any package, no matter where it is positioned within the store</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Achieves images of packages at the very rear of a storage channel (essential)</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Could image the entire surface of the SNM package in-situ (nice to have, not essential)</li></ul>There are a number of physical characteristics that are of interest and must be captured by any proposed imaging system.&nbsp;Full details of these are provided in the Functional Requirements section of the challenge statement.Sellafield ideally require a solution that can be deployed within approximately one year of successful completion of a Proof of Concept project.FIND OUT MOREPlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.A challenge briefing webinar will take place on Tuesday 8th November from 10am - 11.30am. Details of an additional distinct challenge 'SNM package inspections - ex-situ' will also be given during this time.Attendance is free. If you'd like to attend the event, please register via <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/game-changers-webinar-snm-package-inspections-in-situ-tickets-412926152237" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>.The closing date for this challenge is 24th November at 12 noon.

SNM package inspections - in-situ

Sellafield Ltd is responsible for the storage of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) that are a legacy of 60 years of reprocessing activities on the Sellafield site.&nbsp;To provide confidence that SNM packages remain safe for continued storage within Sellafield’s stores, it is necessary to closely monitor the exterior surface of the packages whilst they are in their storage location (in-situ). Such monitoring will inform the selection of packages for ex-situ inspection. The essence of this challenge is to provide accurate and reproducible image capture at precise locations on the surface of SNM packages whilst resident in the store. This challenge does not require radiation hardened equipment.

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore opportunities to obtain accurate and reproducible images at precise locations on the surface of SNM packages whilst resident in store&nbsp;

Long term monitoring of air ducts.pdf

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Challenge aimsSellafield are seeking remote monitoring solutions which will enable them to detect any change, or potential for change, in the condition of the inside of the galvanised mild steel ducts.&nbsp;Solutions must have a long lifespan (a minimum of 20 years) and be capable of communicating data to a central receiver.&nbsp;The data received from each sensor must be combined and displayed on an interface which can be easily interpreted by operators.&nbsp;Solutions must be capable of providing inspection data to sub-metre resolution.&nbsp;Find out morePlease download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.You can also watch a webinar and Q &amp; A session with the challenge owner for more information and details of how to apply.<iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/722557897/"></iframe>The application deadline for this challenge is&nbsp;15 July 2022 at 12:00.

Long term monitoring of air ducts

There are a number of stores on the Sellafield site which contain Special Nuclear Material (SNM) packages.&nbsp;Each of the packages contains materials that are the result of nuclear reprocessing activities over the past 60 years.The packages are in long term storage in concrete cells. The environment within the stores is carefully controlled and the buildings are equipped with ventilation systems which provide a cooling system and a secondary containment barrier through a series of HEPA filters.&nbsp;Primary containment is provided by the main structure of the stores.&nbsp;Sellafield Ltd would like to explore long-term sensor solutions which will allow them to remotely monitor the condition of the inside of the ducts in the storage facilities.&nbsp;Techniques which offer early indications of duct degradation or corrosion are of interest

Sellafield Ltd would like to explore long-term sensor solutions which will allow them to remotely monitor the condition of the inside of air ducts in storage facilities. Techniques which offer early indications of duct degradation or corrosion are of interest

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The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is a UK government owned and operated nuclear services technology provider covering the whole of the nuclear fuel cycle.Established in 2008, NNL brought together the UK’s nuclear research and development capability into one organisation.NNL provide expertise, technology and access to cutting-edge facilities to organisations around the world.&nbsp;Their scientists and technologists are working at the forefront of nuclear innovation to address challenges and harness opportunities across the industry.NNL work on projects as small as drilling a hole to analyse underground wastes with their integrated microdrilling technology, and as large as developing state-of-the-art power systems, based on radioactive materials, for spacecraft.<h2>Innovation at NNL</h2>NNL has always been at the forefront of nuclear innovation, bringing their expertise to solve some of the industry’s most intractable problems.&nbsp;As custodians of some of the most advanced laboratories, active handling facilities, and nuclear technology research facilities in the world, NNL’s ability to bridge the gap between idea and application is second to none.As the nuclear sector faces a major challenge to innovate in order to compete on cost with other low-carbon technologies, NNL are broadening their innovation capabilities.&nbsp;The organisation has growing expertise in robotics, artificial intelligence and new materials.With a strong focus on adopting innovation from outside the sector, NNL are now working in partnership with Game Changers to find solutions to some of their own challenges.

National Nuclear Laboratory

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Dounreay is Scotland’s largest decommissioning project and is internationally recognised as one of the most complex nuclear site closure projects. For more than 50 years it was the centre of the UK’s fast reactor research and development.&nbsp;Now the team is aiming to be recognised as a centre of excellence for nuclear decommissioning.&nbsp;The experimental nature of many of its redundant facilities which included the full spectrum of nuclear operation from fuel manufacture and reactor operation to spent fuel reprocessing and waste storage means that the clean up and demolition is complex and requires innovation and great care. Cleaning up the site poses challenges involving both high radiation and contamination as well as various hazardous chemical cocktails. This presents challenges as new and innovative solutions are required to access remote cells, ducts and vessels for inspection, characterisation, size reduction and material handling. The objective is to safely package and dispose of the materials and permit site remediation.

Dounreay

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Magnox is responsible for the safe and secure clean-up of 12 nuclear sites across the UK, including ten former electricity generating stations and two research sites, and the operation of one hydro-electric plant.Following defuelling of the sites, our work now is as diverse as it is challenging as we pioneer the use of innovative techniques to accelerate decommissioning and clean-up.It is a complex process, bringing together many conventional challenges such as asbestos removal and asset management, as well as characterisation, processing and packaging of radioactive waste, land remediation and ultimately removal of reactor cores.Many of the challenges being faced by Magnox are firsts of a kind, meaning our work is constantly pioneering and continually looking for ways of sharing best practice and seeking improvement.We work hand in hand with our supply chain to transform the tools and techniques used to deliver this important work; growing our expertise in areas such as robotics, virtual reality and digital technology which will ultimately offer significant benefits to the UK and beyond.

Magnox

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NWL supplies water and sewerage services to just under 4.4 million people.Water is supplied to 794,000 properties in Essex and Suffolk, with water and sewerage services provided to 1.3 million properties in the north east of England.NWL employs just under 3,000 people and operates:<ul><li>53 water treatment works</li><li>394 water pumping stations</li><li>341 water service reservoirs</li><li>26,200.20 km water mains</li><li>410 sewage treatment works</li><li>1,007 sewage pumping stations</li><li>30,106 km sewers</li></ul>Every day we supply 1,104 megalitres (1.1 billion litres) of water. This water is drawn from reservoirs, where it is collected and stored, rivers and groundwater sources. It is treated at our works before it is delivered by a network of pipes to homes and businesses.In the north east of England, where we also provide sewerage services, wastewater is then collected from these properties via the sewerage network and treated at our works before it is returned to the environment as either clean water or sludge which can be recycled as fertiliser or used to generate energy.

Northumbrian Water

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Part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy's (BEIS)&nbsp;£505m Energy Innovation Programme, the Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme (AFCP) is investigating the role of advanced nuclear fuels and fuel cycles for a Net Zero future. With the UK Government committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, AFCP is laying the foundation from which Britain can maximise its current capability, meet Net Zero and continue deploying sustainable fuel and recycling concepts through the future.Developed to help equip the UK with the right skills, technology and networks to achieve carbon neutrality, AFCP leverages cross-country collaboration and cutting-edge science to steer the direction of future energy systems.Led in partnership by BEIS and the&nbsp;UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL),&nbsp;AFCP pioneers a uniquely collaborative approach to innovation. Uniting NNL’s unique nuclear infrastructure with the innovative skills and capabilities of more than 100 organisations across over 10 countries, AFCP is delivering a suite of fuel cycle science themes with measurable impact across Britain’s evolving low-carbon landscape.<h3>Fuel cycle themes</h3>AFCP is divided into 11 distinct themes covering Advanced Nuclear Fuels through to Advanced Recycling and Sustainability.&nbsp;Together, these themes span the nuclear fuel cycle to enable future nuclear innovation and deployment in the UK.&nbsp;Advanced nuclear fuels<ul><li>Accident tolerant fuel: AFCP is elevating advanced technology fuels to realise their full range of benefits, fabricating and testing safe, affordable fuels of the future.</li><li>Coated particle fuel: advanced kernel technology has become increasingly valuable for high-temperature reactor conversations. </li><li>Fast reactor fuel: pioneering fast reactor technologies for more energy-efficient reactors. AFCP is investigating test fuel for fast reactor technologies and transuranic materials handling techniques.</li><li>Nuclear data: improving nuclear data to make energy analysis more insightful and accurate than ever before. </li></ul>Advanced recycling and sustainability<ul><li>Aqueous recycle: efficient recycling of water-based by-product is essential to reduce the amount and radiotoxicity of nuclear material.</li><li>Off gas capture: minimising the environmental impact of advanced recycling while ensuring industry can effectively meet regulation standards.</li><li>Pyro-processing: understanding the chemical and physical changes that can transform used nuclear reactor material into new fuel. </li><li>Waste immobilisation technologies: developing innovative technologies to safely store solid material for generations to come. </li><li>Solvent and effluent treatment: exploring alternative ways of safely treating solvent and effluents resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear material in a sustainable, resource-efficient manner. </li><li>Pyro waste: developing technological innovations around safely reprocessing molten salt material. This work develops UK expertise through enhanced understanding of the fuel cycle. </li><li>Fast reactor fuel recycle: developing efficient plutonium recycling routes to reduce raw material usage. Efficiently managing fast reactor material will ensure a sustainable fuel cycle. </li></ul>

Advanced Fuel Cycle Programme

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The pilot Advanced Nuclear Skills and Innovation Campus (ANSIC) is a first-of-its-kind programme for the nuclear sector. Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and delivered by the <a href="https://www.nnl.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">National Nuclear Laboratory</a> (NNL), the campus will be based at NNL’s Preston Laboratory. ANSIC will unite industry and academia to collaborate on projects which help develop and commercialise advanced nuclear technologies in support of the long-term zero-carbon future.The campus will oversee awards of £1 million into the UK industrial and academic supply chain through a variety of competitive open calls and challenges. Technical and operational support will also be provided by NNL in the delivery of successful bids.Important on-site training and educational opportunities at the campus will help ensure the UK has the necessary skills to maintain its position at the forefront of ground-breaking nuclear research and development.Building on the UK’s long-standing nuclear expertise, ANSIC will support the nation’s nuclear sector to develop operational capacity and deliver new technologies to meet the challenges of deep decarbonisation.Two calls for innovation are now live through ANSIC. <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Find out more</a>.Please note that specific IP arrangements are in place for funding applications made to Game Changers for ANSIC opportunities. More information can be found in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/static/u/ANSIC%20funding%20FAQs%203.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ANSIC funding FAQs document</a>.