At the very end of last year, GScan and Estonian state-company A.L.A.R.A signed a €1.67m contract to scan two abandoned Soviet nuclear reactors at Paldiski, Estonia. Just in the end of March we completed the first round of test measurements at the nuclear site with all of the key components of the commercial system muonFLUX Infra work well.
In 1968 Soviet Union built a nuclear submarine training base with two full-length submarines next to Estonian town of Paldiski. After the 1989 Chernobyl disaster the reactors were shut down and encased in a concrete sarcophagus in the early 1990s by Soviet powers as Estonia was about to regain its independence. The site was then handed over to the Estonian authorities, but no detailed specifications about the site were offered.
Using our patented Muon Flux Technology (MFT), we will scan the nuclear sections of the submarines to map out its contents in detail. The 3D image and material mapping will give essential information about the interior of the nuclear sections. The results will later be used as a blueprint to cut up the concrete-filled submarines and to safely dispose of the reactor sections.
Images from left to right. (1) The concept of how GScan's scanner works in ALARA. (2) Cloth-covered scanner under the submarine hull. (3) Data-collecting on the other side of the wall to prevent radiation.
As you can imagine, the first site measurement is a big technical, commercial and emotional jump for our busy team. Not only is this project our fully commercial project, but it also allows us to gather valuable information about the performance of our muonFLUX Infra scanner. Scanning in slightly radioactive environment also gives us an extra challenge, conquering of which will surely benefit all of our future business partners.
By now we are determined that we can easily take on even longer commercial measurements, starting already in April, if needed. We will keep you posted about the unique project. We are sure that upon completion, this project will mark the first commercial scanning of such large structures with such high spatial resolution.
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