Using equipment like educators that don’t have any moving parts aren’t commonplace in many industries. The main benefit is that there are no parts that need to be maintained. This is really beneficial when you want to use them inside nuclear facilities to move radioactive sludge.
Moving that sludge into modern containment is just one of the challenges being addressed by our engineers like Jamie.
Jamie first joined Sellafield Ltd as an industrial placement, returning as a graduate after completing his degree.
"The sludge at the bottom of our ponds has to be dealt with – moved, treated and packaged up so it can be safely stored for decades.
"We are doing feasibility studies and working through the viability of the options available. Because of the nature of the sludge we have to test everything we want to do to it. It’s important that when we finally move it, we get it right first time. The trials help us work out the limits of the equipment we are proposing to use.
"One of the techniques we’re investigating is to use an eductor to use pressurised water to transfer the material. Eductors are used by industries like ours because they have no moving parts. If you’re putting technology somewhere humans will never be able to go, it needs to work without any maintenance.
"We’re also working on how we keep the facility itself clean. The pipes inside will become contaminated as they transfer the sludge, so they will need to be regularly cleaned, but we have to be careful with how much water we use as it becomes another waste stream we’ll have to deal with.
"We’re also using 3D printing to develop parts like nozzles to test new ideas in non-active trials."
The unique nature of our challenges at Sellafield means that Jamie’s training, skills, and experience are always put to good use.
"At Sellafield we’re rarely going off an established script, most of the things we do we start with a blank page.
"As an engineer this is exactly what we want – having the freedom to apply our training, expertise and creativity to work out what to do. The unique challenges we face are difficult, but the community here in engineering design means you’re supported by experts in their field, who are also all keen to help you develop.
"And at Sellafield you get to use your talent to solve some of the UK’s most important engineering problems for the good of mankind and our environment and really make a positive difference."
Learn more about Sellafield's early careers programme here.
