A new radiochemical hot cell facility at Kalpakkam for the study of advanced fuels

A hot cell facility has been designed and constructed within the radiochemistry program of Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India, to carry out postirradiation studies on fast reactor fuels. This facility has several novel features like a double containment system with high-purity argon atmosphere in the inner containment box. The design features ensure a high degree of containment, argon atmosphere of high purity, precise control over all operating conditions, and a large measure of flexibility in the operations. The facility is both compact and economical. The in-cell experimental facilities for postirradiation work include visual examination and photography, fuel dissolution and microsampling, alpha/beta autoradiography, retained fission gas analysis, radial microgamma scanning, and radial microdrilling.