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Argon plant accelerates Sellafield clean-up project
Installation of a new argon plant and associated supply systems has taken preparation at the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo at Sellafield one step closer to the next level of waste retrievals.
Inert for some time, the silo uses argon gas - a critical step taken to maintain a low oxygen environment in the waste compartments.
The new supply plant, which gives additional reliability to the inerting system and provides a seismically qualified argon plant, consists of two argon vaporisers and a thirty-four tonne storage tank, all located on a seismically isolated, double-layer reinforced concrete slab.
The route for the supply pipework was created using a massive thrust boring machine. Similar to a large corkscrew, this was used to bore underground, creating the route for supply pipework.
Working together very efficiently to install the new plant, the British Nuclear Group project team also maintained good communications with other plants affected by the work. This close liaison with other departments was key to the project’s success.
This phase of the work has been accelerated into the programme from 2007 when it was due to be carried out under the approved Near Term Work Plan, following approval of an acceleration change request by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
David Skilbeck, head of delivery for the silo, said: “Once again the team has showed their skill and resilience, overcoming obstacles in delivering challenging projects, to get this legacy silo ready for waste retrieval.
“This new plant will give us the inerting capability we require before we can disturb and retrieve the silo contents and has been accelerated thanks to the support of the NDA. The tank suppliers, Air Products Ltd, have worked closely with the project team to meet the challenging timescales and to incorporate our specific seismic requirements into their design. The chosen technique is now in the early stages of design and its selection is another step toward cleaning up the legacy at Sellafield.”
