Target Transfer Arm Development, Testing, and Deployment

摘要

One of the missions of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) is the production of Californium (~(252)Cf) for use in industry and research. Targets are fabricated in the REDC hot-cells, or cubicles for irradiation in the ORNL High Flux Isotope Reactor. Target fabrication is achieved via remote manipulation and some degree of automation. The existing two degree-of-freedom (DOF) target transfer arm (TTA) plus gripper, has been used since the 1960s to move the delicate and expensive targets to various process stations within hot cell; it reached the point where is was not maintainable. A new two DOF TTA, plus gripper has been designed, tested, and is ready for installation in the hot cell. This paper outlines the design, fabrication, and testing of the TTA.