Commissioning the McMaster University Cans Hot Cells

Abstract

New post-irradiation examination (PIE) facility has been constructed at McMaster University’s Center for Advanced Nuclear Systems (CANS). The CANS facility consists of a suite of 4 connected hot cells as well as an adjacent scanning electron microscope / focused ion beam instrument (SEM/FIB) for hot work. All facilities are designed to provide post-irradiation examination (PIE) research services to academic and nuclear industry users. The cells contain a variety of equipment including a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling machine, multiple sample preparation machines, a tensile testing rig, and an in-cell optical microscopy system. The facility can accommodate vertical and horizontal transfer flasks and samples of activity up to 150 Ci (Co-60). At the time of writing cold commissioning is well underway and it is anticipated that by the time of the conference hot commissioning and some hot work will have been completed. This paper describes the facility as well as commissioning and some initial operations results.