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HOTLAB: European Network on Hot Laboratories

HOTLAB aims to support the safe and economic exploitation of nuclear energy by exchanging information on existing hot laboratories, identifying present and future needs, improving transportation of nuclear materials, conducting inter-laboratory test comparisons, exchanging staff, and organizing yearly conferences.

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HOTLAB: European Network on Hot Laboratories

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  1. HOTLAB European Network on Hot Laboratories L. Sannen (coordinator), W. Goll, G. Bruhl, J.-Y. Blanc and

  2. 19 Partners involved

  3. Introduction (1/3):- Most European hot laboratories were built in the ’60 when nuclear energy was introduced- Since then, remotely operated research were continuously developed, implemented and applied- they supported successfully the implementation of nuclear plants as demonstrated by the present day outstanding performance -During the last decade, the high degree of maturity of conventional reactors and the rising public concern about nuclear faces hot laboratories with more complex loads(reduced funding, refurbishement of aged basic infrastructure, a restricted new crew (retired people) and an increasing stringent environment (Safety authorities requirements))

  4. Introduction (2/3):On the other hand : - the safe and economic exploitation of existing conventional reactors including fuel cycle back end issues (waste disposal, partitioning and transmutation),- the exploration/development of advanced nuclear energy systems (4th generation fission reactors GEN IV and future fusion machine),- as well as boarder application of radioisotopes (medical purposes) Call for highly dynamic hot laboratory capabilitiesboth on short and long terms (from decades to centuries)

  5. Introduction (3/3):- changing political and nuclear landscape- A need for economic optimisation- Increased safety requirements- Confirmed needs for R&D=> Needs for hot laboratories platform integration=> Needs for choice between Upgrading or closing facilities, or building new ones=> Needs for European hot lab optimisation=> Needs for training staff=> Needs for exchanges=> Needs for sharing facilities – transnational access

  6. Project objectives:1) Exchange information on existing hot labs2) What are the needs at present, in the future?3) Improve transportation of nuclear materials=> 3 Work Packages4) Inter laboratory test comparisons (Round Robins)5) Exchange of staff6) Yearly conference=> not included, due to lack of funding, but will be proposed later.

  7. WP1: Internet web portal and catalogue- Started from IAEA – NFCIS - PIE database- Hosted by http://www.sckcen.be/hotlab/ => Open to the public => Restricted pages for participants=> Really easy to find on browser & to use (printing) => Very flexible (insertion of brochures, links)- A catalogue of European hot laboratories (WP1) - contacts, examination capabilities- open to non-participating hot laboratories- Report on present & future needs (WP2)- A catalogue of nuclear transport casks (WP3)

  8. HOTLAB website home page < link to list of facilities < link to WP2 (future needs) report < link to list of casks and transport companies < link to WP3 (transports) report

  9. < Search by topics HOTLAB website: list of facilities

  10.  Search by examination technique How to contact a facility

  11. Search by country > What techniques can offer a given hot laboratory

  12. Printing mode > Description of a technique < possibility to link to a document

  13. WP2: Present & future needs for hot labs- To assess research capacity of European hot labsMethod:1st step: An enquiry on the present situation (topics, list of available examinations, infrastructure);2nd step: The Core Team extracted current trends and preliminary conclusions;3rd step: First assessment of future needs, starting from present status;4th step: Review by HOTLAB participants + specialists from other companies (fuel suppliers, utilities, etc).=> Final WP2 report.

  14. WP2 Results:- Hot labs have a broad range of topics.- Emphasis on fuel cycle + life extension of components- A reduction of total number of European hot labs.=> A high level of utilization of some techniques (optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, EPMA, XRD).=> A limited capacity to absorb an increase in demand.Near Term evolution = mainly continuation due to a stability in the fleet of power plants. New programs cannot be simply added to old ones due to hot cell load.Long Term evolution = depends on new reactor scenarios. Necessity of Task Sharing between labs.

  15. WP3: Identification of common needs on transport casks and transport operations.On the website, are available :- A catalogue of 19 transport casks is available at:http://www.sckcen.be/hotlab/transport/- A link with which labs can receive a given cask.- A forum for return of experience on radioactive material transport, reports on good practices, feedback on operational procedures, initiating programs of R&D (e.g. radiolysis)

  16. HOTLAB transport site: list of transport companies

  17. List of casks for a given transport company

  18. Cask file < link to a facility

  19. Cask file (continued)

  20. WP3 Results:- A code of good practice published for measurement of neutrons around transport packages.- A radiation control protection procedure for transport packages written (same measurement points at departure and arrival)- Recommendations drawn on techniques to ensure leak-tightness during transport of unsealed sources.- Several other items identified for a follow-up project (harmonization of contents of transport documents, study of radiolysis, etc)

  21. General results:- Practical realizations (useful website, procedures, reports, 2 conferences).- Success for both HOTLAB plenary meetings(Halden Sept. 2004 and Petten, May 2005).- Increased participations of Eastern European countries.- A way to generate mutual discussions (for buying new microscopes, for handling wastes, etc).- The Steering Committee agreed to propose a continuation to HOTLAB.

  22. HOTLAB follow-up:- Improve web portal (e.g. for non specialists) hotlab.eu- Improve work on future needs, by searching synergies between the hot labs. Make a link with MTRs. - Emphasis on inter-laboratory tests(list of what is possible, and how to do it)- Emphasis on personnel exchange(list of who is interested, and how to do it)- Continue the work on transport & casks on the basis of what has been identified in HOTLAB.- Continue yearly conferences (in 2007, in Romania)=> Proposition of an I3 in the 7th FP ? => Proposition of an SSA at the last FP6 call: 11th April 2006

  23. Welcome to the European Working Group “Hot Laboratories and Remote Handling“ Plenary Meeting 2006 Jülich, Germany • September 19 – 21, 2006 www.fz-juelich.de/conference/hotlab2006

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