Nuclear

Undertaking projects in the nuclear industry can require a lot of manpower and very specific skill sets, some of which aren’t always easy to find on short notice. This can mean that you’re unable to accept a project, or if you’ve started the work, you may be left in a situation where you have limited resources. But, regardless of the workforce and skills needed, to undertake the project safely, meticulous planning must be done to ensure the job is completed properly. It’s typical that, within the nuclear sector, you may be working on a job to decommission a nuclear power station, which can impact thousands of lives if done wrong.

This reiterates the importance of having a capable team and workers with knowledge and experience in the industry. Another factor that is extremely important when working on these projects is safety equipment and work gear. As visibility can be poor and the overall environment generally hazardous, it’s absolutely essential that you are equipped with suitable gear for the work. At brimstone, we understand these challenges and aim to offer viable solutions to real-world problems. With years of experience in the industry, we’re able to offer applications that have been tried and tested, ensuring you receive the support you need.

To learn more about how we can support your company on projects within the nuclear industry, including the decommissioning process at nuclear facilities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our journey together begins when you send your enquiry to us, which we will be able to use to create a proposal that accurately meets your needs. At this stage, we’re able to plan and organise every bit of support you need from us so that, moving forward, you know exactly what to expect. To get in touch with us, you can call us on +44 (0) 1229 838 111 or email us at enquiries@brimstoneuk.com with your message and contact details. A member of our dedicated team will respond to you as soon as possible to help you with your request.

How Brimstone Can Help in the Nuclear Sector

It’s no secret that working on projects at nuclear facilities can be unpredictable and extremely hazardous. Due to the presence of radioactive material, which can post serious harm to the human body, it’s important that you have a clear and precise decommissioning strategy. Having this in place will allow you to ensure your workforce is as safe as possible and that the necessary precautions have been taken. One factor that can cause an issue, however, is the scope of the project, and it’s possible that you may not have the resources to complete it on your own. Outsourcing work or bringing in external agencies to help can overcomplicate the situation, though, and put deadlines at risk due to the additional steps in the process. 

We aim to aid at this stage by providing a team of experts, who have experience within the sector, that can work as part of your team. Integrating our specialists into your team negates the need for outsourcing and ensures that the whole process remains under your control. You’re able to delegate tasks much more easily and manage progress, as opposed to waiting on confirmation from outside parties as to where their progress is at. This also allows you to build a stronger relationship with the client, as you’re able to provide accurate and honest updates on the status of the project.

When working with nuclear reactors and carrying out decommissioning activities, the tasks can be so tricky, due to the severe danger posed, that you often need extra manpower. Having enough workers to carry out even the smallest tasks can be essential to ensuring the safety of the overall workforce. Limited staff and resources could put workers in more danger due to the presence of nuclear waste and other hazardous materials. Without equipment that is suitable for this specific application, safety could be compromised. This is one of the issues we aim to provide a solution to, by offering bespoke solutions that are specifically suited to these situations. 

By liaising with you on the projects you’re working on, we’re able to provide solutions that can help improve safety in exceptionally hazardous environments. Nuclear power plants of course include a lot of nuclear material, which requires specific equipment and protective gear to protect against the radiation emitted. Famously, one of the most effective methods to protect against radiation is lead, which can be used in clothing to provide added protection. Sourcing this, however, can prove difficult, especially if you require it on a tight deadline.

The issues that can occur due to the decommissioning process being so dangerous make having the right equipment all the more important. If containment is breached and radioactive waste is leaked, there can be serious implications, so it’s important that you have the proper equipment to complete the project. To ensure that containment isn’t broken and exposure is limited, this can often require more manpower and multiple shifts to stay on top of processes. Naturally, this isn’t always an easy task, which is why we’re on hand to provide you with as much help as you need.

One of the key challenges that companies within the nuclear industry face is to continually develop and research new technology that can prove innovative in its uses. Whether it’s nuclear engineers you need, capable facilities or equipment, we can help make this a possibility. Just as you are, we’re committed to a sustainable future and providing solutions in various industries that can positively contribute to projects.

Our Application

At Brimstone, we aim to provide solutions to real-world problems and, depending on which services you require from us, we can help across a range of practical settings. As our team blends seamlessly with your own, you’re able to control processes much easier and ensure that work is completed on time. For companies working within this industry, it’s extremely important that they are able to manage the project and client expectations as a result. With our integrated application, you’ll be able to do just that.

Operations for decommissioning can require extra equipment, work gear and safety items. This is due to the extremely hazardous environment. We can provide equipment and support that directly helps with the challenges you will face whilst undertaking these tasks. Our experience with decommissioning includes radiation, environment robotics (crawlers & ROVs), manipulator arms & grippers, intervention tooling, waste transfer lines (HLW, ILW & LLW), radiography deployment systems, laser alignment equipment and project management.

Utilising our experience in these various areas will allow you to accept projects with larger scope and ensure that they are completed both on time and to a high standard. As we have experience dealing with radiation and equipment to help in these situations, such as robotics that can help navigate dangerous terrain, our services can increase safety on-site.

Decommissioning & How It Works

In order for a nuclear power plant to be shut down, it must undergo a decommissioning process to ensure that all waste is properly disposed of. This is because nuclear waste and radiation are also dangerous to humans and other living creatures. If this process isn’t carried out properly, there could be huge repercussions that otherwise could have been prevented. This is why it’s so important to ensure the decommissioning process is carried out effectively and with the proper working equipment.

The process involves emptying fuel channels, removing the fuel assembly and transferring it to a cooling pond. Each of these steps are necessary to prevent dangerous reactions with nuclear material and other substances/chemicals. Once all of the fuel has been removed from the power plant and properly cooled for disposal, deconstruction of the plant can begin. This includes the treatment and removal of low level radiological and non-radiological wastes, as well as the demolition of old facilities. As the workers in charge of carrying out this work are in close contact with radioactive materials, health and safety is of utmost importance.

As the fuel in the reactor is removed before work can begin, this lowers the risk involved as there will no longer be extremely high levels of radiation in the facility. This means that focus can be placed on the removal of the remaining nuclear waste to ensure that proper deconstruction can begin. As this can’t simply be thrown away, it’s important that the workers are familiar with the processes for disposal. There may also be requirements for mechanical equipment that can help with work and improve the safety of those on-site. At Brimstone, we can help with this and supply important technology that can aid your work on the project.

When working on decommissioning projects, the scope can vary from place to place. It’s possible that you will be required to work on large sites and aid with the removal of nuclear fuel. This could be different from the next project that only requires reconstruction of the building. The varying tasks involved can mean that if you’re prepared for one job, you may not be for the next. We aim to provide you with the skills, workforce and technology you need to ensure you’re readily equipped to tackle any project. Integrating our help into your own team and services allows you to tackle projects head-on, whilst knowing you have the resources to back up your ability.