Powered by Indico
v3.2.9
SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is a second-generation nuclear facility for the production of radioactive ion beams based on the ISOL technique. Due to the activation generated by interactions of the primary beam, intense neutron fields and deposition of the produced radioactive ions inside beam line elements, an ISOL facility becomes an intense radioactive source. Therefore, the radiological hazard imposes severe safety challenges to the design, operation and maintenance of such facilities.
A Probabilistic Hazard Assessment (PHA) analysis was therefore performed on the so-called SPES Front-End, to identify potential safety and environmental risks, as well as major operational problems. The methodologies for the quantitative risk assessment applied are the semi-quantitative Hazard and Operability Analysis (HazOp) and the Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA). From the application of these methodologies, it was found that the backup actuation systems make it possible to reduce the probability of human interventions. However, at present, there is a lack of maintenance procedures, a preventive maintenance program with periodic inspections and an operator training program.
In order to develop the maintenance procedures, an experimental campaign has been planned to determine average times, considering different operators and different levels of training, necessary to perform some maintenance operations. The objectives are to estimate the potential dose exposure, to identify the work positions as well as to identify the criticalities in order to improve the design and therefore the maintenance operations. To do this, a preliminary analysis of the existing components was carried out to identify the most critical in terms of maintenance.
Giordano Lilli