NAC International OPTIMUS®-H Plays Key Role in Research Reactor and Hot Cell Cleanout

The NAC Family of Companies (NAC) recently completed a turnkey hot cell cleanout for a research facility in the Northeast, marking the first domestic use of the OPTIMUS®-H packaging system and the combined resources and efforts of NAC International, NAC Philotechnics, and NAC LPT. The research facility had accumulated hot cell waste material in one-gallon paint cans. The package selection for in-cell storage was used by the site to permit for the transfer of material from one cell to the next via a small pass-box between cells. 

Through a series of three campaigns, NAC enabled the safe and compliant transfer and disposal of the material. To accommodate the safe loading of the materials and to provide stabilization of the material during transport, NAC designed a custom dunnage system integral to 55-gallon drums for final disposal. NAC provided all project planning, project management, operations support, lifting and rigging, logistics and transportation, and disposal. 

Key elements that contributed to the success of the project were the use of a shielded overpack for transfer of the material from the hot cell to the loading area and custom liftable drum harnesses to allow for crane transfer of the material from the shielded overpack into the OPTIMUS-H. NAC’s approach allowed for minimal material handling during loading and transfer operations, and the robust shielding of the OPTIMUS-H system limited operator exposure to the disposal package, resulting in significant dose reduction to the workers. 

NAC designed the OPTIMUS systems to be robust, versatile, compact, and cost-effective transportation packagings ideally suited for research reactors and hot-cell cleanout materials. They are perfect for sites with restricted access, material handling constraints, and crane limitations that require Type A or Type B transportation packaging.  

The OPTIMUS systems’ modularity allows reconfiguration of packaging components and internals for optimal shielding performance. Some of the integrally designed features of the OPTIMUS making it unique are its ease of operations for loading and unloading, integral shipping pallets for forklift handling, and three design-tested shielding insert assemblies for higher activity contents allowing flexibility for content configurations.

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