Strategic Reserve Stage Right (SR²)

Description

Strategic Reserve Stage Right (SR²) represents a system level approach to automated handling of nuclear material. It is a modified version of Sandia National Laboratories’ previous nuclear material handling system called Stage Right that was developed in the early 1990’s.

Applications

SR² is used to automatically store, retrieve, track, and monitor nuclear material at the Department of Energy’s Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. The nuclear material is radioactive and dangerous. SR² stores and maintains this material in a benign and secure manner.

Development

Researchers at Sandia developed the Stage Right concept to help solve a storage capacity shortfall at Pantex. They used commercial off the shelf equipment and integrated it with Sandia developed technology into an efficient, cost effective, automated system to handle nuclear material. SR² features:

• Graphical system control
• On-Board video surveillance
• Automated guided vehicle
• Sandia developed material tracking system
• Sandia developed in-situ content verification

The SR²’s automated guided vehicle is 58 inches wide and operates in 64-inch wide isles. It can lift up to 2200-pound pallets and store them more than 20 feet high.

Benefits

SR² increased storage capacity at Pantex’s Special Nuclear Material Component Staging Facility, enabling Pantex to meet storage capacity goals without new construction. This resulted in a cost savings of more than $30 million. In addition, technicians operate the system from a remote location, significantly reducing their radiation exposure. SR² is a positive step towards reducing stockpile maintenance costs, improving efficiency, and mitigating hazards associated with handling and storing of nuclear material.

Strategic Reserve Stage Right is a unique solution to Pantex’s nuclear material storage capacity problem, and it’s just one working example of Sandia’s commitment to finding innovative solutions to difficult problems using the resources and technologies available at Sandia National Laboratories.