Post-Irradiation Examination (PIE) Shielded Facilities, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Budget: n.a.
Size: 1,400 ft2.
Project team: Merrick & Co., Aurora, Colo.; McMaster Univ.; Atkinson Engineering Inc., Hamilton, Ontario; CANMET (Natural Resources Canada); and Kinectrics, Etobicoke, Ontario (design/build).
Completion date: 2013.
Description: PIE shielded facilities ("hot cells") will be located within the existing Tandem Accelerator Building (Building 32) at McMaster University, in support of the development of the Centre for Advanced Nuclear Systems (CANS). CANS research focuses on nuclear materials post-irradiation examination and materials characterization; nuclear safety thermal-hydraulic behavior; and health physics dose assesment. The PIE facility will support materials characterization development. testing and analysis that will investigate the mechanical behavior of existing and newly developed materials, and to conduct isotope material research. The program includes a suite of six hot cells with an adjacent room housing test equipment and electron microscopes. Operators will be separated from the radioactive test specimens by means
of shielded walls, shielded windows, and manipulators that allow remote
handling of materials. A supercritical water materials test suite and materials development facility will be located separately; the health physics dose assessment facility will be situated at a partner university. CANS lab infrastructure is being funded jointly by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and McMaster Univ.
Contact: Erinn Harkness, Merrick & Co., erinn.harkness@merrick.com
