Automation of the Tritium Extraction Facility

The US Department of Energy has determined its future requirements for tritium will be met using the existing reactors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Tritium Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs) will replace the existing burnable absorber rods in the reactor core to beneficially use excess neutrons to create the tritium. The irradiated TPBARs will be shipped from the reactor to a new facility at the Savannah River Site. This new facility, the Tritium Extraction Facility (TEF), will receive the shipments from the reactor, store the TPBARs, prepare the TPBARs for tritium extraction, extract the tritium, and package the waste for disposal. The high level of gamma radiation emitted from the TPBARs will preclude human contact. Automation and remote handling will be used to accomplish the required operations, while minimizing radiation exposure to workers