Advancing Radiation Sciences: The Dalton Cumbria Facility at the University of Manchester
The Dalton Cumbria Facility is a £20+ million collaboration between the University of Manchester and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Westlakes, focusing on non-active engineering decommissioning and radiation science studies. It provides a research facility with access to the British Technology Center, enabling innovation in nuclear decommissioning and waste cleanup. Key research areas include PVC degradation, radiation chemistry of mixed media, production of molecular hydrogen, and the effects of mixed radiation fields on various materials. The facility aims to establish a sustainable academic community dedicated to advancing radiation sciences.
Advancing Radiation Sciences: The Dalton Cumbria Facility at the University of Manchester
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Presentation Transcript
Building Capabilities in Radiation Sciences School of Chemistry, Univ. of Manchester Simon M. Pimblott Dalton Cumbria Facility
A £ 20+ million joint initiative between the University of Manchester and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Westlakes • 1. Research facility for non-active engineering decommissioning & radiation science studies • 2. University access to British Technology Center • 5% of allocation for UoM usage • 5% for academic collaborators under scheme administered UoM • “Nuclear Universities Research Consortium” BTC at Sellafield
Nuclear Decommissioning & Waste Clean Up Research Challenges • PVC degradation by radiation • Radiation chemistry of mixed media, especially Pu containing systems • Production of molecular hydrogen (and the fate of complementary oxidant) • Understanding the effects of mixed radiation fields • Radiation induced production of corrosive agents • Effects of radiation on cements and grouts • Radiation effects on: • Interfacial process • Heterogeneous systems • Humid and damp systems • Hydrocarbons and organic polymers • Chlorinated materials • in realistic environments i.e. under pressure & at temperature. Research Needs
Detailed model of radiation effects Track structure simulation ab initio theory Experiment & dataanalysis Effects of physico-chemical processes Radiation chemical& materials modeling Reaction dynamics theory
Requirements • Physical infrastructure: • Mixed radiation types • Appropriate “analytic” support to allow surface and bulk interrogation • Computational facilities • Machine / electronics shop • Intellectual capacity: • Sustainable “resident” academic community
Sources for Radiation Chemistry • Electron LINAC • Tandem Pelletron for1H, 4He & heavier ions • 60Co g irradiator
Analytic SupportLaboratory Materials InterrogationLaboratory Radiation Sources Team target by 2010: 30 researchersplus support personnel Radiation Sciences Programme Radn ChemistryResearch Surface ChemistryResearch Free RadicalResearch Radn DamageResearch • Chair Professor of Radiation Sciences • 3 Junior Academics in Chemistry / Materials Sciences • 6 Post-doctoral Research Associates / Experimental Officers • 20 Graduate Students
