Improvements in plastic enclosure system for glovebox decommissioning

Watahiki, Masatoshi ; Akai, Masanori; Nakai, Koji; Iemura, Keisuke ; Yoshino, Masanori*; Hirano, Hiroshi*; Kitamura, Akihiro   ; Suzuki, Kazunori

Gloveboxes used for plutonium fuel development and fabrication are eventually dismantled for replacement or decommissioning. Since equipment interior and the inner surface of gloveboxes are contaminated in radioactive materials, glovebox dismantling work is performed by workers wearing an air fed suit with mechanical tools in a plastic enclosure system to control the spread of contamination. Various improvements of enclosure system are implemented including modification of the rooms to decontaminate and undress the air fed suit and introduction of inflammable filter and safety film near the size reduction workspace against fire. We describe the countermeasures deployed in the enclosure system against potential hazards and how these devices work in the real dismantling activities.