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HAL Line Blockage Inspection and Clearance System

British Nuclear Group required that a system be produced to inspect, sample and clear a blockage that had occurred in a HAL Line on Sellafield site. Following integrated BNG and Assystem Limited team "brainstorming" sessions, Assystem carried out initial scheme design proposals, full detail design, manufacture, assembly, and test & development of the first system with the first system used on Site within 3 months of project initiation. The project further developed another 31 units, successfully deploying 14 on site. The remaining units were held at JoRDI for further development into a generic system and for possible future use on other site inspection requirements.

The system was required to remotely deploy a specially designed miniature camera & lighting inspection head, combined with a high pressure water jetting line down the 50 mm nominal bore HAL Line pipe to the blockage. Image showing a line inspection system.

Engineering disciplines covered:
  • Mechanical Design
  • Electrical and Control Design
  • Manufacturing engineering
  • Project Management

Project Statistics:
  • Maximum team size 21
  • Project value £900k
  • Duration 2 years

Achievements:
  • Single team culture between BNG R&T, BNG Site personnel & Assystem staff.
  • Highly productive and focussed team.
  • Full involvement of all disciplines and functions from project initiation.
  • Successful design of miniature integrated camera & lighting unit specifically designed for the task.

Secondary Benefits:
  • The HAL Line inspection & clearance system to be developed for generic use on Sellafield site.
  • Multiple and varied special to type inspection systems designed and manufactured for various Sellafield plant applications.

Nuclear Design Case Studies