In today's world, the use of technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in various industries, and demolition is no exception. Demolition service robots have emerged as a game-changer in the demolition and decommissioning process, offering numerous advantages over traditional methods. This category includes robots designed for deactivating or decommissioning hazardous complexes, such as nuclear, chemical, refuse, and military sites. Remote handling is often used to carry out these activities, with the operator situated in a safe cabin or at a safe distance. One particular area where these robots have proven to be incredibly useful is in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations.
Types of operations carried out by the robot
Robots have proven to be very useful in decommissioning nuclear facilities due to their ability to carry out hazardous tasks without risking human life. With more than 500 research reactors and 180 commercial nuclear power reactors already retired, the need for robots to decommission these plants safely is increasing. Decommissioning costs are decreasing, and proven techniques and equipment are available to dismantle nuclear facilities safely.
The decommissioning of nuclear facilities involves tasks such as active decontamination, collecting and handling of waste, transporting and depositing contaminated material, surface processing, and physical processes. Robots play a significant role in these processes, as they can carry out tasks that are too dangerous for humans.
Brokk, a company that has developed a series of electrically driven hydraulic machines that can navigate through narrow doorways, is being used in Fukushima to survey, videotape, and remove debris from the very high exposure areas of the damaged reactors. The LMF (“Leichtes Manipulator-Fahrzeug,” “Easy Manipulator Vehicle”) is another example of a modular vehicle for remote-controlled intervention in nuclear facilities.
In Chernobyl’s Reactor 4, Spot from Boston Dynamics was used to generate a heat map of radiation that leaked out of the sarcophagus made of concrete and steel. The robot was equipped with a collimated radiation sensor and operated by researchers from the University of Bristol, the U.K. Atomic Energy Authority, the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear initiative, and the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the decommissioning process of the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant, as the removal of debris has been postponed by about a year.
Robots are also useful in road construction and demolition. Conjet produces automated high-pressure water-jetting machines for hydro-demolition, which uses a high-pressure water jet to remove concrete from sensitive structures such as bridges, parking decks, dams, canals, tunnels, quays, and jetties in conjunction with concrete repair. Robots can also be used for other water-jet applications such as scarifying or roughening surfaces, cleaning, and paint removal.
In conclusion, robots are essential in the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, as they can carry out hazardous tasks that are too dangerous for humans. They are also useful in road construction and demolition, where they can carry out noisy and dangerous jobs with precision and accuracy.
Level of distribution
When it comes to the distribution of demolition service robots, the nuclear power industry emerges as a key player. While specialized robots are currently being used in limited quantities, the industry's growth prospects are significant. With the upcoming construction of new plants and the need for decommissioning, there is a rising demand for innovative robotic solutions. The market potential for general demolition of construction complexes, as well as dismantling and servicing of nuclear plants, chemical industries, waste treatment, and military complexes, is substantial. As a result, the distribution of demolition service robots is likely to increase significantly in the coming years, with the nuclear power industry driving much of this growth.
Cost-benefit considerations and marketing challenges
When it comes to dismantling nuclear sites, cost-benefit considerations and marketing challenges are always at play. For instance, in Germany, €38 billion have been allocated to decommission 17 nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estimates that the clean-up of the country's 17 nuclear sites will cost between €109‒250 billion over the next 120 years, or €1.4 to €2.7 billion per Giga Watt. France, on the other hand, has only set aside €23 billion to decommission its 58 reactors.
Dismantling nuclear power plants is often challenging because of the risk of radiation or chemical contamination. In such cases, manual labor may not be feasible, and the use of demolition robots may be necessary. However, to be effective, the robot must be agile and able to cut pipes, demolish walls, package material into containers, haul material, and more. The robot must also be dismantled for transportation to a storage area. The main challenge is to ensure that the robot is extremely reliable, as it is virtually impossible to repair or upgrade the system once it has been deployed. These robots are typically remote-controlled with a limited degree of autonomy due to safety considerations and the complexity of the task. Combining robust sensing/feedback with high durability and flexibility represents a significant obstacle to broader deployment.
Most current robotic devices have little autonomy, and a human operator is typically involved in the control loop. These systems generally fall into three broad categories: relatively costly, customized solutions to specific problems; general-purpose equipment modified for this use; and systems produced from off-the-shelf components (COTS) such as heavy-duty (hydraulically driven) manipulator arms. The nuclear power industry uses robots during plant construction, decommissioning, maintenance operations, and waste disposal.
The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) explains in an OECD report from 2011 about the Cooperative Programme on Decommissioning (CPD) that robots may have limited practical applicability in decommissioning. However, in December 2019, the NEA established an expert group on the Application of Robotics and Remote Systems in the nuclear back end to explore potential joint activities and exchange information.
To overcome the high cost of developing robotic technology, several means have been identified, including developing a broader understanding of existing robotic capabilities, avoiding reinventing technologies, becoming a reliable patron of the robotics industry, integrating the newer generation into the older generation of D&D managers, and funding research further down the R&D pipeline.
There is a strong tendency to use more versatile systems with greater degrees of automation and mobility. Advanced sensors, augmented reality, and improved human-machine interaction have increased the practical benefits of using robot technology. For example, in the Fukushima disaster, a large-scale decommissioning project that is expected to take 40 years and cost USD15 billion, squadrons of advanced robots will be used. In 2019, the first test was conducted, which included lifting and moving fuel debris by a robot arm. While the tests yielded positive results, the cleanup operation is not expected to begin until 2022.