Laser ablation system and method
AssigneeEclipse Automation, Inc.
InventorGreg Ferguson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is a laser ablation system and method for decontamination of radioactive particles. The system includes a laser head assembly, comprising a laser for ablating radioactive particles from an underlying material, a shroud surrounding the laser for containing the ablated radioactive particles; and a suction nozzle for receiving an airflow from the shroud and releasing the airflow, wherein the airflow contains the ablated radioactive particles, and the waste management system for removing and containing the ablated radioactive particles, comprising a gas pulse regenerable filtration system for removing radioactive particles from the airflow and depositing them in a containment flask, and a vacuum for moving the airflow through the hose into the containment flask.
Claims20
A laser ablation system for decontamination of radioactive particles, the system comprising:
- a laser head assembly, comprising:
- a laser for ablating radioactive particles from an underlying material;
- a shroud surrounding the laser for containing the ablated radioactive particles;
- and
- a suction nozzle for receiving an airflow from the shroud and releasing the airflow, wherein the airflow contains the ablated radioactive particles;
- and
- the waste management system for removing and containing the ablated radioactive particles, comprising:
- a gas pulse regenerable filtration system for removing radioactive particles from the airflow and depositing them in a containment flask;
- and
- a vacuum for moving the airflow through the hose into the containment flask.
A method for decontamination of radioactive particles, the method comprising:
- laser ablating radioactive particles from an underlying material;
- generating an airflow to move the ablated radioactive particles;
- and
- filtering the ablated radioactive particles from the airflow.
The method of clam 19, wherein a cable management system is further configured to spool and unspool power and data cables connected to the crawler and the laser head assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.