BUGEY 1 Mock-up Using TruPro® for Sampling & Characterization
Successful Bugey 1 sampling penetration and containment was accomplished by a “dry” and contained radiological sampling methodology for the Bugey 1 bioshield metal materials and reactor structural metal components. This was achieved by the design, production and implementation of project and material specific drill bits, sample retrieval systems (cores, fragments and powders), and a bioshield subsurface mini sampling gantry. The selected successful methodology using the TruPro® sampling with particulate capture and profiling in depth will be implemented toward Bugey 1 characterization.
The goals of the Bugey 1 mockup and study were to realize and optimize the TruPro® approach and design to acquire, retrieve, and characterize representative samples from the Bugey 1 reactor. To explore the commercial TruPro® applicability the following will be done:-
- modify and optimize the original TruPro® fixture
- gather process optimization data by conducting tests on the variables of material type,
- apply forces over deep concrete / metal and void space depths
- apply drilling forces,
- drill sampling head optimization for each simulated bioshield material,
- infield analytical optimization to meet data quality objectives, and
- various combinational relationships.
Computer Aided Design (CAD) models was used to accurately reflect working configuration, mass, and envelope before mockup testing at the NMNTI facility.