Sellafield Ltd, through the Game Changers programme, is seeking solutions for the remote characterisation of fuel-derived materials. The challenge requires a solution capable of identifying and analysing unknown nuclear materials within constrained environments, often in areas with limited access and high radiation.

Currently available technologies, including standard spectroscopic and imaging techniques, struggle with material identification in these challenging conditions. Sellafield Ltd is therefore looking for alternative approaches.

See functional spec:

• Ability to identify and quantify Magnox, magnesium hydroxide, uranium and associated corrosion products.

• Provide consistent and repeatable results.

• A variety of conditions (dry/damp/underwater) apply to this challenge; solutions that can work in all environments are preferable; however, solutions that work in any one of these scenarios are of definite interest.

• Ability to characterise a heterogenous mixture of fine and coarse material.

• Provision of a real-time analysis is vastly preferred over a post-processing option.

• Stand-off techniques are preferred; however, contact with the waste could be considered if appropriate.

• The solution must be radiation tolerant.

Sellafield Ltd is looking for a solution that could be developed in time for future deployments, with potential wider applications across the site and NDA estate.

If this is something that could align with your expertise, then please go to the gamechangers.technology website and press on the challenges tab. The PDF challenge statement can also be downloaded from there if you’d prefer not to open it via this email. The application requires completing a few questions and submitting a poster and any supporting materials of your proposed solution. There is a challenge webinar at 10am on the 24th March and the closing deadline for submissions is 3 pm GMT on the 14th April. View the flyer with links below

Supporting documents

Click link to download and view these files

Topics