Dual Rotating Tool Decontamination Device for Nuclear Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for decontaminating nuclear facility walls are inefficient, experience high wear and tear, and require excessive energy to remove contaminated concrete surfaces to a depth of 10 mm, making them unsuitable for timely decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Innovation Solution
A device with two rotating tools in succession, one equipped with disc-like saw blades and the other with impact cutters, cuts grooves into the wall and removes material within these grooves, allowing for deeper and more efficient removal with reduced contact forces and wear, and includes a suction system for material collection and safety features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single rotating tool with impact cutters is used to remove contaminated material, then the device can remove material from the wall surface, but the wear and tear of the impact cutters is high and energy consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The single rotating tool is divided into two separate rotating tools: a first rotating tool with impact cutters for cutting grooves, and a second rotating tool with saw blades for removing material within the grooves. This segmentation allows each tool to perform its specific function more efficiently, reducing wear and energy consumption compared to using a single tool for both tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The first rotating tool with impact cutters performs preliminary action by cutting grooves into the wall surface before the second rotating tool removes the material within these grooves. This preliminary groove-cutting action facilitates easier and more efficient material removal by the second tool, reducing the overall energy required and extending tool life.
2Productivity
If conventional decontamination methods are used to remove surfaces up to 10 mm depth, then contaminated material can be removed, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The decontamination process is segmented into two sequential operations: groove cutting by the first rotating tool and material removal by the second rotating tool. This segmentation enables deeper material removal (up to 10 mm) to be accomplished more efficiently than conventional single-stage methods, significantly reducing decontamination time while maintaining high productivity.
3Weight of moving object
If a single rotating tool is used for material removal, then the device structure is simpler, but contact forces are excessive and the device is heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The material removal function is segmented between two rotating tools: the first tool cuts grooves with lower contact forces, and the second tool removes material within the grooves. This segmentation reduces the contact forces required compared to a single tool attempting to perform both functions, thereby reducing the overall device weight while maintaining effective material removal capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables efficient, time-saving, and cost-effective removal of contaminated concrete surfaces up to 10 mm depth with reduced energy consumption and extended tool life, ensuring safe and controlled disposal of radioactive materials.
Implementation Method 1
a suction system for material collection
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (10) and a method for removing contaminated material from a wall, the device (10) comprisingsuction plates (26) which fix a support system (13) of the device (10) to the wall by means of negative pressure, anda first rotating tool (14) that has impact cutters (16) in the circumferential direction. Disc-shaped saw blades (20) are provided in a second rotating tool (18) mounted upstream of the first rotating tool (14) in the working direction.