Long term monitoring of air ducts

There are a number of stores on the Sellafield site which contain Special Nuclear Material (SNM) packages. 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. Primary containment is provided by the main structure of the stores. 

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. Techniques which offer early indications of duct degradation or corrosion are of interest

Challenge aims

Sellafield 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. Solutions must have a long lifespan (a minimum of 20 years) and be capable of communicating data to a central receiver. The data received from each sensor must be combined and displayed on an interface which can be easily interpreted by operators. Solutions must be capable of providing inspection data to sub-metre resolution. 

Find out more

Please download the challenge statement for full details of this opportunity.

You can also watch a webinar and Q & A session with the challenge owner for more information and details of how to apply.

The application deadline for this challenge is 15 July 2022 at 12:00.