Dose reduction during remote dismantling of pile chimneys at BNFL Sellafield

A remote handling machine (RHM) and a radio controlled excavator will be deployed to dismantle parts of the Windscale pile reactor chimneys. The potential radiation dose uptake associated with decommissioning parts of pile 1 chimney makes remote controlled equipment an essential part of the dose control strategy. During the project planning phase, the major areas of examination leading to the chosen engineering methodologies have been (1)dose rate variation and source distribution; (2) phasing of major source removal; (3) minimization of work in high dose rate areas; (4) development of remote/semiremote technology; (5) waste handling and packaging requirements; and (6) analysis of shielding options