Sellafield Ltd

The Skip Size Reduction Facility (SSRF) size reduces intermediate level nuclear waste skips that are stored in ponds on the Sellafield site.

The size reduction facility allows for the processing of First Generation Magnox skips which would otherwise have no waste route available.

This process is essential for the remediation of the Sellafield site, emptying legacy ponds that store waste from as early as 1964.

The SSRF processes skips by scanning and cutting them using 2 robotic arms following a planned path, before placing the cut parts into another skip using a 2 in 1 methodology.

So far, 30 skips have been size reduced, proving the technology’s capability in a highly contaminated nuclear environment, and providing learning on the capability of the system and legacy waste used.

The SSRF was initiated by Sellafield Ltd, to work with IDS (Atkins), TKE, LaserMet and Krantz, working collaboratively to deliver the Active Demonstration (AD).

The primary focus of the SSRF as an AD is to collect data on the technologies and processes used, examples of key learning points including undocumented manufacturing variation in the feedstock skips and unexpected nuclear contamination build-up on filtration systems.