Objekt Vroča Celica – Reaktorski Infrastrukturni center

Hot Cells Facility (Objekt Vroča Celica, OVC) is intended for characterisation, sorting and treatment of radioactive materials.

The OVC comprises three rooms:

ROOM A: Manipulation room
ROOM B: Central preparatory room
ROOM C: Radiological measurements room

V Room B comprises two hot cells VC1 and VC2 , and eight digestors (D1 – D8). Between the hot cells there is a depository for solid radioactive materials with 32 positions (dimensions Φ 100 mm x 100-250 mm). VC1 and digestors D1 – D4 se uporabljajo za delo z radioaktivnimi viri; dostop je iz the manipulation room A. VC2 presently serves as a radioactive material storage. Otherwise it can be upgraded for work with radioactive sources from the radiological measurements room C. The remaining four digestors (D5 – D8), located within the radiological measurements room C, are used for various measurements. All rooms are under continuous radiological surveillance.

Hot cells and digestors usage and equipment available

VC1 is connected with the TRIGA reactor via pneumatic system for transferring irradiated samples. It is equipped with a device for the opening of irradiation containers and master-slave manipulators for handling radioactive sources. It is designed to work with activities of up to 1000 Ci (Co-60).
VC2 is intended for storing radioactive sources with activities of up to 1000 Ci (Co-60).
D1 and D2 are equipped with manipulators and intended to manipulate sources with activities of up to 10 Ci (Co-60).
D3 and D4 are intended to manipulate sources with activities of up to 0.1 Ci (Co-60).
D5 – D8 are intended for carrying out radiological measurements.

Equipment available at OVC

Crane with load capacity of 3.5 tons
Ultrasonic decontamination bath (dimensions 500 x 400 x 400 mm)
Hidraulic press for compacting materials in standard 210 L casks
Portable booth made from PVC-film strengthened poliester (dimensions 4 x 2.5 x 2.5 m)
Mobile vacuum cleaner with HEPA filtration
Electrical shears (for cutting 0.9 mm thick plates)
Forklift truck with load capacity 1.5 tons
Electronic balance with a load capacity 150 kg

Equipment for radiological characterisation

Alpha spectrometer (six semiconductor detectors with a diameter of 2.4 cm)
Low level alpha-beta counter (eight proportional detectors for samples with a diameter of up to 5.2 cm
Gamma spectrometer for objects radiological characterisation (40% relative efficiency)
Total alpha-beta counter for smears and filters (samples with diameters of up to 6 cm)