Data Acquisition and Process Control System for the Hot Fuel Examination Facility

A data acquisition and process control system has been developed to control the remote examination of reactor fuel elements in a hot cell. The computer system, positioning stages, CAMAC controls, and detection equipment are described. One of the examinations performed, precision gamma scanning, illustrates the use of this system. The development of both hardware and software, the logic for controlling the examination, and the utilization of the CAMAC standard are discussed. Expansion of this system to include several new examinations will determine whether or not further automation of the facilities is feasible.