AIKEN, S.C. - The Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is using virtual reality technology to improve the reactor deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) process. This innovative approach is being used to close the dormant C Reactor at EM’s Savannah River Site (SRS).
“Using virtual reality allows us to ‘walk through’ the building anytime and anywhere," SRNL Research and Development Engineering (R&DE) Principal Engineer John Bobbitt said. “It reduces worker exposure to hazards by allowing virtual walk-downs versus actually entering the facility, and is an efficient way to evaluate different alternatives to complete our mission."
Built in 1955, C Reactor was one of five reactors built at SRS to produce basic materials for the nation’s nuclear defense during the Cold War. Inactive since 1985, C Reactor is being evaluated by SRNL experts for the safest and most efficient methods for final decommissioning. To address the complexities involved with a nuclear facility of C Reactor’s size and age, the SRNL R&DE team is using virtual reality to identify and mitigate potential hazards.
To create the virtual environments, the team uses a laser scanner mounted on a tripod to scan an area of the reactor. The team takes multiple scans of the rooms and corridors, then assembles them into a master model. The scanner measures distances to create the model and then captures pictures which provide the color overlays, making signs and even equipment labels readable.
The scans capture pipes, electrical outlets and other details from the exterior, providing more information than a standard blueprint drawing. This information helps in work planning and pre-job briefings, providing real-time data and situational awareness to improve safety for workers before they enter the facility.
“C Reactor’s facility design information is contained within thousands of drawings that date back to the original construction in the 1950s," said Bobbitt. “These drawings were organized to aid in construction and maintenance, but they are not the best way to address the facility’s closure. To rely on this method alone would require the team to cross-reference many drawings just to get a good picture of what exists in one room."
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
