Mobile Hot Cell:
Idaho National Laboratories- Mobile Hot Cell Packaging, Fixturing, and Deployment Design
Team: Miles Butterfield, Brigham Clark, Chris Larson, Brayden Monson, Paolo Venegas
Sponsor: Idaho Nataional Lab
(1) The Project:
- A Hot Cell is a radiological containment device where radioactive materials can be manipulated safely
- Recovery of radioactive sources
- Robot Arm to manipulate radioactive sources, placed on the Z-Mast
- Mobile, international shipping
- Each shell weighs nearly 20,000 LBS
(2) Project Goals
Purpose:
- Safe delivery of the Mobile Hot Cell (MHC) to a variety of countries
- Mobile Hot Cell can be used to permanently contain radiation sources, preventing bad actors from obtaining this radiation
Deliverables:
- Loading and unload procedure for all items
- Develop method of tying down and securing all components
- Develop physical protection for MHC
- Create 3D model and 3D Printing of all items to develop and validate packing processes
- Ensure loadout meets all shipping codes and international standards while providing relevant documentation
Securing Equipment
- Fabric Webbing Ratchet Straps
- 2”: 3,333 lbs, MBS 10,000 lbs.
- 4” 6,670 lbs, MBS: 20,000 lbs.
- Anchor Points
- Tiedown Rings
- WLL: 2,000 lbs.
- MBS: 6,000 lbs.
- Tiedown Bar
- Custom Designed Fixtures
(3) Loading and Unloading
- Components are placed to keep the center of mass centered
- Unloaded and loaded thorugh a Telehandeler crane
- Site layouts are setup to maximize efficiency as well as functionality in a variety of circumstances
- Many containers contain custom designed fixturing to support unique components
- Containers are designed to be shipped with minimal adjustment, and flexibility
(4) Securing and Tiedowns
- Containers have have large wooden crates with smaller boxes
- Secure smaller components in foam boxes
- Flexibility allows these crates to be used on site
- Electricity
- Foldout workstation
- Internal Padding
(5) Documentation and Performance Review
- Full analysis and jusitificactions
- Technical report for workers with instructions a alternatve plans
- Flexibility emphasized
- Deployment procedures across foregin countries with unsecured radtioactive sources
- Team members met or exceeded all client reqruiements
| Requirements | Target | Perforamnce |
|---|---|---|
| All MHC components will fit within shipping containers | 9' X 18' each | Components will fit inside containers |
| Number of shipping containers | 7 containers | 7 containers |
| Weight of components | 52,000 lbs. | All containers are under 42,000 lbs. |
| Center of gravity of containers | 4'3" X 4' (+- 6") (x-direction) (front of container) 4'3" X 10' (+-21") (side of container) |
Within defined parameters |
| Deployment Time | 6 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Components withstand the accelerations of travel | .8g-1.6g | .6g-2g |