ASTM C1533-02
(Guide)Standard Guide for General Design Considerations for Hot Cell Equipment
Standard Guide for General Design Considerations for Hot Cell Equipment
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The purpose of this guide is to provide general guidelines for the design and operation of hot cell equipment to ensure longevity and reliability throughout the period of service.
It is intended that this guide record the general conditions and practices that experience has shown is necessary to minimize equipment failures and maximize the effectiveness and utility of hot cell equipment. It is also intended to alert designers to those features that are highly desirable for the selection of equipment that has proven reliable in high radiation environments.
This guide is intended as a supplement to other standards, and to federal and state regulations, codes, and criteria applicable to the design of equipment intended for hot cell use.
This guide is intended to be generic and to apply to a wide range of types and configurations of hot cell equipment.
SCOPE
Intent:
1.1.1 The intent of this guide is to provide general design and operating considerations for the safe and dependable operation of remotely operated hot cell equipment. Hot cell equipment is hardware used to handle, process, or analyze nuclear or radioactive material in a shielded room. The equipment is placed behind radiation shield walls and cannot be directly accessed by the operators or by maintenance personnel because of the radiation exposure hazards. Therefore, the equipment is operated remotely, either with or without the aid of viewing.
1.1.2 This guide may apply to equipment in other radioactive remotely operated facilities such as suited entry repair areas, canyons or caves, but does not apply to equipment used in commercial power reactors.
1.1.3 This guide does not apply to equipment used in gloveboxes.
1.2 Caveats:
1.2.1 This guide does not address considerations relating to the design, construction, operation, or safety of hot cells, caves, canyons, or other similar remote facilities. This guide deals only with equipment intended for use in hot cells.
1.2.2 Specific design and operating considerations are found in other ASTM documents.
1.2.3 The system of units employed in this guide shall be the inch-pound unit, also known as U.S. Customary Units. These units are commonly used in the United States of America and defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including certain other units accepted for use with these terms.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.
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Designation:C1533–02
Standard Guide for
General Design Considerations for Hot Cell Equipment
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1533; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D 5144 Guide for Use of Protective Coating Standards in
Nuclear Power Plants
1.1 Intent:
2.2 Other Standards:
1.1.1 The intent of this guide is to provide general design
10CFR830.120 Nuclear Safety Management Quality As-
and operating considerations for the safe and dependable
surance Requirements
operation of remotely operated hot cell equipment. Hot cell
ASME NQA-1 Quality Assurance Requirements for
equipment is hardware used to handle, process, or analyze
Nuclear Facility Applications
nuclear or radioactive material in a shielded room. The
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
equipment is placed behind radiation shield walls and cannot
be directly accessed by the operators or by maintenance
3. Terminology
personnel because of the radiation exposure hazards. There-
3.1 The terminology employed in this guide conforms to
fore,theequipmentisoperatedremotely,eitherwithorwithout
industry practice insofar as practicable.
the aid of viewing.
3.2 For definitions of terms not described in this guide, refer
1.1.2 This guide may apply to equipment in other radioac-
to Terminology C 859.
tive remotely operated facilities such as suited entry repair
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
areas, canyons or caves, but does not apply to equipment used
3.3.1 canyon—a long narrow, remotely operated and main-
in commercial power reactors.
tained radiological area within a facility.Work within a canyon
1.1.3 This guide does not apply to equipment used in
is generally accomplished with overhead cranes with the aid of
gloveboxes.
remote viewing capability.
1.2 Caveats:
3.3.2 cave—typically a small-scale hot cell facility, but is
1.2.1 This guide does not address considerations relating to
sometimes used synonymously with hot cells.
thedesign,construction,operation,orsafetyofhotcells,caves,
3.3.3 electro-mechanical manipulator (E/M)—usually
canyons, or other similar remote facilities. This guide deals
mounted on a crane bridge, wall, pedestal, or ceiling and is
only with equipment intended for use in hot cells.
used to handle heavy equipment in a hot cell. The E/M is
1.2.2 Specificdesignandoperatingconsiderationsarefound
operatedremotelyusingcontrolsfromtheuncontaminatedside
in other ASTM documents.
of the hot cell. Most E/Ms have lifting capacities of 100 lbs. or
1.2.3 Thesystemofunitsemployedinthisguideshallbethe
more.
inch-pound unit, also known as U.S. Customary Units. These
3.3.4 hot cell—an isolated shielded room that provides a
units are commonly used in the United States of America and
controlled environment for containing highly radioactive and
defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology,
contaminated material and equipment. The radiation levels
including certain other units accepted for use with these terms.
within a hot cell are typically several hundred roentgens per
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
hour or higher.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.3.5 master-slave manipulator—a device used to handle
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
radioactively contaminated items or nuclear material in a hot
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
cell. The uncontaminated portion of the manipulator is called
bility of regulatory requirements prior to use.
themasterandthecontaminatedportioniscalledtheslave.The
2. Referenced Documents slave replicates the motion of the master.
3.3.6 mockup—an area designated for the testing of hot cell
2.1 ASTM Standards:
equipment or the process of qualifying said equipment prior to
C 859 Terminology Relating to Nuclear Materials
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 06.02.
1 4
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C26 on Nuclear Fuel AvailablefromSuperintendentofDocumentsU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice,
Cycle and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C26.14 on Remote Systems. Washington, DC 20402
Current edition approved June 10, 2002. Published August 2002. Available from ASME, Three Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016.
2 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.01. Available from ANSI, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th Floor, New york, NY 10036.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C1533–02
sending it into the hot cell for operation. A mockup is usually master-slave manipulators or other in-cell handling equipment
equipped with master-slave manipulators and electro- should be considered to preclude damage to those items.
mechanical manipulators and cranes to simulate the hot cell
7.4 Preventivemaintenancebasedonpreviousexperiencein
dimensional envelope and operations.
similar environments and similar duty should be performed as
3.3.7 radiation absorbed dose (RAD)—also called total
required to prevent unscheduled repair of failed components.
accumulated dose, is a measure of the amount of energy
7.5 Hot cell equipment may be required to be leak tight
deposited by ionizing radiation in any material.
when handling liquids. Leak tightness prevents radioactive
3.3.8 roentgen equivalent man (REM)—a measure of the
liquid from entering the interior of hot cell equipment where it
damaging effects of ionizing radiation to man. A millirem is
can cause corrosion, shorting of electrical components, higher
one one-thousandth of a REM.
chronic radiation to components and complicates decontami-
nation.
4. Significance and Use
7.6 Hot cell equipment should generally be designed to
4.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide general guide-
function indefinitely within the highly radioactive environ-
lines for the design and operation of hot cell equipment to
ment. However, in many cases this may not be possible since
ensure longevity and reliability throughout the period of
radiation degrades some materials over time. Alpha, beta,
service.
gamma, and neutron radiation can severely damage most
4.2 It is intended that this guide record the general condi-
organic materials, e.g., oils, plastics, and elastomers. Commer-
tions and practices that experience has shown is necessary to
cially available equipment containing organic materials may
minimize equipment failures and maximize the effectiveness
require disassembly and the internal components replaced with
and utility of hot cell equipment. It is also intended to alert
more radiation resistant materials. If suitable alternate materi-
designers to those features that are highly desirable for the
als cannot be used, special shielding may have to be integrated
selection of equipment that has proven reliable in high radia-
into the design to protect the degradable components. In the
tion environments.
case of some electronic equipment, it may be possible to
4.3 This guide is intended as a supplement to other stan-
separate and move the more radiation sensitive components
dards, and to federal and state regulations, codes, and criteria
outside of the hot cell and operate the equipment in the hot cell
applicable to the design of equipment intended for hot cell use.
remotely. Where possible and appropriate, equipment should
4.4 This guide is intended to be generic and to apply to a
be designed to withstand an accumulative radiation dose of
wide range of types and configurations of hot cell equipment.
8 60
approximately 1 3 10 RADs (H O)[ Co].
5. Quality Assurance Requirements 7.7 Since hot cells have a limited amount of space, the
equipment designs should be standardized where possible to
5.1 The fabricator and owner-operator of hot cell equipment
reduce the number of one-of-a-kind parts. Standardization of
should have a quality assurance program. Hot cell equipment
hot cell equipment will reduce design time, fabrication costs,
should be designed according to stringent quality assurance
operator training time, maintenance costs, and the number of
requirements and undergo quality control inspections as out-
special tools required to perform a certain operation. Standard-
lined by the agency of jurisdiction. QA programs may be
ization in design, drawing control and excellent quality control
required to comply with 10CFR830.120, ASME NQA-1, or
assure that components are interchangeable. Specially de-
ISO 9001.
signed equipment should be standardized for use with equip-
6. Nuclear Safety
ment in similar applications or systems to reduce spare parts
inventories and to maintain familiarity for the operators.
6.1 The handling and processing of special nuclear materi-
Commercially available components should be used, and
als requires the avoidance of criticality incidents. Equipment
modified if necessary, wherever possible in preference to
intended for use in handling materials having a special nuclear
specially designed equipment.
material content should undergo a criticality assessment analy-
sis in accordance with the requirements of ANS 8.1 and other 7.8 All hot cell equipment should be designed in modules
for ease of replacement, maintainability, interchangeability,
such standards and regulations as may be applicable.
and ease of disposal. The modules should be designed to be
7. Design Considerations
remotely removable and installed using the in-cell handling
7.1 Hot cell equipment should be designed and fabricated to equipment, that is, master-slave manipulators, cranes, etc.
remain dimensionally stable throughout its life cycle. Consideration should also be given to the transfer path to get
7.2 Fabrication materials should be resistant to radiation equipment into the hot cell and size equipment modules
damage, or materials subject to such damage should be accordingly. Components with a higher probability of failure
shielded or placed and attached so as to be readily replaceable. should be made modular for ease of replacement. Remotely
7.3 Special consideration should be given to designing hot operated electrical connectors must be compatible with the hot
cell equipment that may be exposed to or may create high cell materials handling equipment. Drawings of hot cell equip-
temperatures, high rate of temperature changes, caustic condi- mentshouldreflecttheas-builtconfigurationforallreplaceable
tions, or pressure changes. Abrupt changes in the hot cell components to provide reliable documentation control. Inter-
temperature or pressure may cause the hot cell windows to facing components should be toleranced to fit the in-field
crack and potentially lose containment. The effect of handling conditions. Replaceable components should be labeled with a
and operating high temperature hot cell equipment on the standard identification and the component weight. Examples of
C1533–02
modular designs might include subassemblies of removable generally transferred to a suited entry repair area where
motors, resolvers, valves, limit switches, and electrical cables. personnel in anti-contamination clothing perform hands-on
repairs. Equipment that will be repaired in a suited entry repair
7.9 The hot cell atmosphere can have an adverse affect on
area should be capable of being decontaminated to levels
hot cell equipment. Hot cells can have air or inert gas
atmospheres and are usually kept at a negative differential suitable for contact maintenance.
pressure of 1.0 to 2.0 in. of water gauge with respect to the
7.14 Hot cell designed equipment should include design
surrounding operating areas. Hot cells with inert atmospheres
features to minimize the amount of decontamination required
or very low moisture content can make it difficult to operate
for repair or disposal. Since the method of decontamination
some types of equipment. Some brush type motors, for
may involve rigorous chemical cleaning and decontamination
example, will stall or simply fail to operate. One solution has
procedures, the choice of component materials should be
been to replace the motor brushes with high altitude type
compatible with the decontamination techniques and solutions.
brushes made of silver-graphite or use brushless motors. A
For example, some decontamination solutions may not be
good understanding of the effects of the hot cell atmosphere on
compatible with aluminum.All surfaces should have a smooth
equipment is essential when purchasing or designing new hot
finish, such as a 128 or better, to make the items easier to
cell equipment.
decontaminate for disposal or repair. Contamination “traps” in
7.10 Itisgenerallyadvisabletoperformqualificationtesting
equipment should be avoided or eliminated where possible.
on new hot cell equipment in a mockup facility prior to putting
Hollow pedestals welded on equipment for the mounting of
the equipment into service. The mockup generally uses the
motors, gearboxes, bearings, and like components should not
same equipment interfaces such as cranes, electro-mechanical
have through holes or threaded openings.
manipulators, and master-slave manipulators as the hot cell.
7.15 Design considerations for disposal at end-of-life of hot
The mockup is generally located in a non-radioactive and
cell equipment should always be considered early in the design
non-contaminated area.Any new equipment to be used in a hot
process. Equipment that has been in a hot cell for an extended
cell should be assembled, disassembled, and operated in the
mockup to verify that it can be installed, removed, maintained, period of time may be difficult to decontaminate to acceptable
and operated successfully in the hot cell environment. The levels for disposal because of the amount of fixed contamina-
mockup area is also useful for training purposes and trouble-
tion. Also, some materials may become activated when ex-
shooting. Oftentimes the mockup testing will identify deficien-
posed to radiation over a period of time, which may cause the
cies in the equipment design or operation that without mockup
material to be classified as a mixed hazardous waste. The use
testingwouldrendertheequipmentuselessinthehotcell.Care
of these materials should be avoided where possible because of
should be taken during the mockup testing and hardware
the complications of disposal. Components that are fastened
installation to ensure that the operability and integrity of the
together are sometimes preferable to welded components
equipment is not compromised.
because they are easier to disasse
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