Graphite Sampling Equipment Design

Assystem have recently supplied and developed equipment to provide graphite sampling via the standpipes of AGR reactors in support of continued operation activities. In a contract of the order of £3M, Assystem supplied the equipment, provided the project management, the outline scheme design proposals and substantiation of the design using HAZOPs, Dose assessment calculations, FE analysis, design reviews and availability, reliability and maintainability (ARM) studies.

The glovebox system employs gamma gates and remote operations to deploy Borazon coated sampling tools to remove graphite from the AGR core accessed from the charge face via the reactor standpipes.

The system uses camera and alignment systems together with dust extract and large cable deployment reels. Of particular importance is the need to minimise contamination by the dust created during the sampling process and the potential spread of activity around the primary circuit. To this end Assystem designed and developed a novel thin walled Borazon tipped sample extract tool which significantly reduces the amounts of contaminated carbon dust generated.

Assystem also supplied the ancillary compressed air skid unit and monitoring unit / control desk for the system.

Full mock up trials and test rigs were constructed prior to actual deployment on site.