CNNC Xiyi Waste Barrel Storage Well Grinding Robot Completes On-Site Testing

Recently, the waste barrel storage well grinding robot developed by CNNC Xiyi officially completed on-site testing in the grinding project of the process BOP (three wastes) storage wells of Units 3 and 4 at Xudabao, marking a substantial breakthrough in the field of automated construction in confined deep-well spaces within the nuclear industry.

Waste barrel storage wells feature great depth, small openings, high verticality requirements, and high dust concentrations. Traditional manual grinding requires multiple workers to take turns entering the confined space, resulting in long construction cycles and high risks. The grinding robot developed by CNNC Xiyi is equipped with an XYZ three-axis movement mechanism and a multi-degree-of-freedom motion system with R rotation and W width adjustment, covering a working width of 12 meters with a maximum grinding depth of 5 meters, applicable to the construction of standard waste barrel storage wells across various reactor types. The robot adopts a remote control mode, with operators controlling it from outside the well. The robot can automatically perform feed, rotary grinding, and coordinated dust collection through an integrated vacuum system, completing full-area grinding operations on all four walls and the bottom surface of the well.

On-site measurements show that after grinding, the inner side verticality is 4 mm, the coaxiality deviation between upper and lower sections is 3.4 mm, and the flatness of side and bottom surfaces is less than 2 mm, all superior to the acceptance criteria of verticality ≤5 mm, coaxiality ≤5 mm, and flatness ≤2 mm. All construction indicators meet the technical requirements of the client unit. The single-well operation time has been reduced from 1 day with traditional manual methods to 1.5 hours, achieving an efficiency improvement of approximately 81%. This achievement enables personnel to remain outside the well with full remote process control, avoiding risks such as suffocation and collision in confined spaces, eliminating occupational dust hazards, and systematically enhancing project construction efficiency.

▲Effect after grinding

As the first application case of automated grinding in deep-well spaces within the Group, the Xudabao project provides important reference and successful experience for the promotion and application of similar projects across the Group. Going forward, CNNC Xiyi will deepen the implementation of engineering robots in key construction processes of nuclear facilities, providing equipment support for intelligent construction of nuclear power projects.