Optical imaging systems for ceramic melters

Ceramic melters are being developed for immobilizing radioactive wastes in a glass matrix. Periscopic video viewers have been designed to monitor both the melting process and the process of pouring the molten glass into stainless steel canisters. Because of the thermal and nuclear radiation and the chemical environment, all of the processes are performed within a cell having shield walls 1.219 m thick. Periscopes are used to relay an image to a video camera located outside the cell. The periscopes, constructed using radiation-stabilized glasses, are expected to survive the thermal and nuclear radiation environment much better than would a video camera placed inside the cell.