Designing a laboratory in a nuclear environment
Orano defines sites to meet requirements, sizes, constructs and commissions active laboratories hosting standard or advanced OTS analytical equipment.
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- Clearly define needs in terms of flows, and the frequency and types of analyses required, with the operator
- Identify which analytical equipment must be adapted or modified to cover:
- analytical needs for radioactive solutions/effluents/sludges/solids
- the need for a guaranteed life for equipment in irradiating conditions
- the need to protect operators and facilities from irradiating and contaminating materials,
- the proper performance of procedures, quality targets, obligations defined by authorities and regulations.
- Analyse organisational and human factors to allow operators to work in suitable ergonomic, safe and secure conditions.
These phases must also take the following into consideration:
- potential integration in current facilities,
- the changing analytical needs of customers,
- changing analytical and measuring techniques.
Orano provides various types of services for laboratories:
- A package solution from designing the laboratory to commissioning,
- Support with defining needs (types of chambers, analytical equipment, sample management, etc.),
- Studies focusing on how to use OTS equipment in a nuclear context followed by the validation of a prototype at our facilities,
- Design studies for customised containment chambers (operability, maintenance, waste management, ventilation, etc.),
- Existing sizing verification studies for laboratories relating to new needs,
- Platforms, mock-ups and tools which are available or must be provided to train future facility operators.
- Operating nuclear laboratories (product quality, RCD and DEM, performance checks, environment, medical, asbestos)
- Shielded chambers with remote manipulators or tweezers, Glove Boxes, fume hoods
- Designed to ensure easy maintenance and operations for analytical equipment
- Samples can be taken and transferred from the process location to the analytical system
- Management of liquid and solid laboratory effluents
- Inline process monitoring (FXL, spectrophotometer, etc.)
- Multiple analytical techniques adapted to the nuclear sector for liquid and solid samples (ICP-MS, K-EDGE, FXL, Gamma spectrometry, SSA, furnaces, etc.)
- ALARA policy and consideration of ergonomic aspects when adapting analytical equipment for chambers
- Operator training
50 years of experience in the design and operation of laboratories covering the entire fuel cycle: La Hague, Melox, CEA and Tricastin sites in France, was well as ore concentration sites, the Rokkasho and Fukushima sites in Japan, Sellafield in the United Kingdrom and MFFF in the United States.
Orano’s expertise is based on:
- tried and tested design and sizing methods for analytical laboratories
- operating feedback for all Orano laboratories covering the entire fuel cycle and training methods
- combined specific engineering/operator know-how
- centres and infrastructures (HEF, HRB, HRP, CIME) able to set up virtual reality/augmented reality systems, as well as mock-ups, to:
- develop and test prototypes
- qualify new analytical methods
- validate designs
- train future operators
- the active participation of Orano on analytical method networks.
- A customised service able to meet your needs and adapt to your requirements: from defining needs to providing a full solution
- An optimised design based on half a decade of experience in laboratory design and operations
- Experience based on projects completed for internal and external customers, in France and abroad
- Centres and infrastructures able to test prototypes in real conditions and validate/qualify inactive prototypes
