Magnox join Hub as Applied Research member

The South West Nuclear Hub is pleased to welcome Magnox Ltd. as its latest Applied Research member.

Magnox is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, and is the management and operations contractor responsible for 12 nuclear sites and one hydroelectric plant in the UK. This includes the Berkeley, Hinkley Point A and Oldbury sites in the South West.

They ensure that decommissioning activities are carried out:

  • safely, securely and predictably, with due regard for the environment
  • to the satisfaction of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
  • in the long-term interests of our organisation, our employees, the local communities and our supply chain partners.

As an Applied Research member Magnox will bring significant expertise to support some of the Hub’s key research themes such as Waste & Fuel Management and Robotics.

Matthew Tilsley (Decommissioning Chief Engineer) at Magnox Ltd. said:

“As we move forward with our decommissioning challenge it is important to share ideas and solutions with the wider decommissioning community to deliver innovation and to derive benefit from existing technical solutions. The Hub provides an excellent platform for this, especially in the areas of graphite management, nuclear robotics and remote operations.

One example is that of the assay ROV (remote operated vehicle) which we have jointly developed to monitor the interior of effluent pipework and drains (pictured below). Access to the Fenswood Farm facility [home to the Bristol NNUF Hot Robotics facility] also enables the rapid development and off-site optimization of robotic solutions for emerging challenges during decommissioning”.

ROV (remote operated vehicle) developed to monitor the interior of effluent pipework and drains

The combination of a commercially available pipecrawling robot with a bespoke sensor package aims to combine gamma spectral data with positional data.  This will provide valuable information on activity levels and radioactive inventory of pipe internals at UK legacy nuclear facilities, in particular the Active Liquid Effluent System at Magnox Winfrith.  

Professor Tom Scott, Co-Director of the South West Nuclear Hub, said:

“Bringing Magnox into the Hub network will allow us to collaborate further on key decommissioning challenges. This agreement build on already well-established research links between the University of Bristol and Magnox, which focus on graphite modelling, corrosion science, waste package management and nuclear robotics. Magnox will now benefit from closer access to our other hub partners and hence together we can make a positive difference for nuclear decommissioning”

“It’s really exciting to see the hub membership continue to expand, going from strength to strength.”

About Magnox

Magnox, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is the management and operations contractor responsible for 12 nuclear sites and one hydroelectric plant in the UK.

Under contract to the site owner, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the company is responsible for electricity generation at Maentwrog, defuelling at Wylfa and the decommissioning of Berkeley, Bradwell, Chapelcross, Dungeness A, Harwell, Hinkley Point A, Hunterston A, Oldbury, Sizewell A, Trawsfynydd and Winfrith.

Find out more

South West Nuclear Hub Applied Research Membership

The South West Nuclear Hub has three main tiers of membership, tailored to the type and size of your organisation. We deliver a whole host of specific benefits that will bolster proposals and contribute to future research wins. These benefits are shaped around our strategic pillars: Research, Innovation, People and Engagement.

Applied Research membership is aimed at companies and institutions with an interest in nuclear energy development, deployment and support throughout the lifecycle, including the supporting supply chains.

Find out more on our Membership page or view the Applied Research Brochure

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