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Latest News
Colin Judge: Testing structural materials in Idaho’s newest hot cell facility
Idaho National Laboratory’s newest facility—the Sample Preparation Laboratory (SPL)—sits across the road from the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF), which started operating in 1975. SPL will host the first new hot cells at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) in 50 years, giving INL researchers and partners new flexibility to test the structural properties of irradiated materials fresh from the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) or from a partner’s facility.
Materials meant to withstand extreme conditions in fission or fusion power plants must be tested under similar conditions and pushed past their breaking points so performance and limitations can be understood and improved. Once irradiated, materials samples can be cut down to size in SPL and packaged for testing in other facilities at INL or other national laboratories, commercial labs, or universities. But they can also be subjected to extreme thermal or corrosive conditions and mechanical testing right in SPL, explains Colin Judge, who, as INL’s division director for nuclear materials performance, oversees SPL and other facilities at the MFC.
SPL won’t go “hot” until January 2026, but Judge spoke with NN staff writer Susan Gallier about its capabilities as his team was moving instruments into the new facility.
O. Vincent-Viry, J. André, A. Chobriat, C. Dauteuil, F. Durut, C. Hermerel, S. Meux, M. Theobald
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 73 | Number 3 | April 2018 | Pages 481-487
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1387017
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The variety in the design of laser targets experimented at CEA requires versatile and adaptable target assembly stations. Even if assembly technician know-how remains essential and indispensable, automation appears to be a valuable solution to improve productivity and target quality [Carlson et al., Fusion Sci. Technol. Vol. 70, p. 274 (2016); Lee et al., Fusion Sci. Technol., Vol. 59, p. 227 (2011); and Schmidt, Fusion Sci. Technol., Vol. 55, p. 290 (2009)]. Given the variety of target designs, automation is investigated essentially as an operator support on some specific and repetitive tasks. The gluing of the laser entrance hole membrane on gas targets is a typical example. CEA has developed an automated station dedicated to this specific operation. The main objectives are to increase productivity and reduce sensibility to operator know-how. A concept prototype (for a single holhraum) has been designed and successfully tested and the implementation of multiple devices on the station is about to begin. This paper gives a complete presentation of the station and of the developments achieved.
