We are interested in improving our understanding of the long-term storage of plutonium. This includes the behaviour of the plutonium, the storage package and the store.
We are also interested in how the operation of our stores (package movement or inspection and store monitoring) could be improved, particularly through the implementation of remotely operated technologies and techniques (robotics). This work is done in close collaboration with Sellafield Ltd.
Get in touch with research@nda.gov.uk
Plutonium dioxide is a very dynamic material. Radioactive decay damages the lattice and also forms other elements in the material. Helium, an inert gas, may be localised or trapped in the lattice, or maybe released. Uran...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: University of Manchester
This project specifically focuses on the behavior of plutonium dioxide in storage, addressing the long-term storage aspect of the question.
When a nuclear power station enters the decommissioning phase a large amount of nuclear waste is generated. This waste, which is made up of a range of materials with differing radioactive content and intensity, as well a...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Lead research organisation: EDF ENERGY R&D UK CENTRE LIMITED
This project addresses the improvement of store operation through the implementation of remotely operated technologies, aligning with the question's focus on store monitoring and robotics.
The aim of this proposal is to provide key equipment that will deliver an internationally-unique open-access academic capability to manufacture, irradiate, and examine the pre- and post-irradiation characteristics of a r...
Funded by: EPSRC
Lead research organisation: University of Manchester
While this project focuses on alpha-active material manufacturing and characterization, it does not directly address the long-term storage of plutonium as requested in the question.