S.A.Robotics

Client	West Valley Nuclear Services Company
Facility	DOE Demonstration Site
Location	West Valley, NY

The West Valley Nuclear Services Company is conducting decontamination activities within the Vitrification Cell. The facility was used to process high level liquid waste by encapsulating it in borosilicate glass. Decontamination of the cell required a system that would produce virtually no waste, low cost, and be controlled remotely.

The S.A.Robotics Vitrification Cell Decontamination System (CO₂ Decon) provided a low cost, nearly zero waste stream, remotely deployable decontamination technology using both liquid and solid Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). The system deploys a 40,000psi CO₂ liquid stream and is capable of deploying high momentum dry-ice particles into the supersonic slipstream to aid in cleaning.

In addition to the Liquid and Solid CO₂, garnet may be added to the stream to remove more difficult materials. Most importantly, such a system is reliable and deployable over existing technologies by using flexible high pressure hose to deliver the liquid CO₂. This allows the creation of additional supersonic “Dirty –Ice” particulates, since a portion of the liquid converts to ice particles upon expansion.

This system is achieved by incorporating many known technologies with the custom design of S.A.Robotics. The four major components of this project are listed below:

• Intensifier (Pressurizes the CO₂ to 40,000psi)
• Dry Ice Pellet Delivery System
• Garnet Delivery System
• Blasting Nozzle

The first three systems combine at the blasting nozzle which is designed to be used on any surface that is contaminated. Additionally, softer materials can be decontaminated by reducing or eliminating the use of Dry Ice and Garnet. This technology and equipment was developed and delivered with a firm fixed price.