Nuclear Decommissioning Robot RadClean Completes First Fuel Debris Removal at Fukushima Unit 3
RadClean nuclear decommissioning robot, jointly developed by Toshiba and IAEA, successfully completes the first fuel debris removal operation at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 3, extracting approximately 5 kg of radioactive debris.
Nuclear Decommissioning Robot RadClean Completes First Fuel Debris Removal at Fukushima Unit 3
On July 23, 2028, RadClean nuclear decommissioning robot, jointly developed by Toshiba and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), successfully completed the first fuel debris removal operation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 3. RadClean worked in a high-radiation environment for approximately 6 hours, extracting about 5 kg of fuel debris and transferring it to a dedicated storage container.
RadClean is specifically designed for Fukushima Daiichi's extreme environment. The robot uses radiation-hardened electronic components (withstand radiation doses exceeding 1,000 Gy/h), equipped with a multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm and haptic feedback system. Operators in a remote control room precisely control the robot's movements through force-feedback hand controllers.
Kentaro Yamamoto, head of Toshiba's Nuclear Energy Division, said: "Fuel debris removal is the most difficult task in Fukushima decommissioning. The debris is highly radioactive, irregularly shaped, and located inside a structurally damaged reactor. RadClean's success demonstrates the viability of robotic technology in extreme nuclear environments."
The 5 kg of extracted fuel debris will be sent to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) for detailed analysis to determine its nuclide composition and physical state. The complete decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi is expected to take 30-40 years.
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