Can you spot what makes this glovebox a nuclear glovebox?
Besides the fact that it is installed in the nuclear laboratory of CURIUM.
Hard to tell at first sight, it looks like a purified atmosphere glovebox like the ones we do in series.
But have a look closer, as some details give it away:
- It has got rounded corners, essential for inner enclosure decontaminability
- The vacuum antechamber has an additional interlock system to prevent opening both doors at the same time.
- It has Bag In Bag Out outlet filter housings, allowing for filter replacement without breaching the nuclear containment.
- Waste bag ports, with sealing bags, so that nothing gets out through the antechamber, and containment is never breached during transfer.
The biggest indication that also provides information on what the glovebox is going to be used for is not visible because it sits behind the glovebox; it is the huge safety valve for this size of glovebox, a “Metal Safety Valve 120” or commonly named VMS 120.
Of course, lots of other aspects come in play but here are the most visible ones.
Next time you see a nuclear glovebox, you will know !
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