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Remotely Controlled Concrete Demolition System at Argonne National Laboratory-East Argonne, Illinois

Site Name:

Argonne National Laboratory

Location:

Argonne, Illinois

Period of
Operation:

August - September, 1997

Cleanup
Type:

Field demonstration

Vendor:

Toby Duane
Duane Equipment Corp
888-273-2511

Technology:
Remote Controlled Concrete Demolition System
- Brokk BM150 supplied by Duane Equipment Corp
- Remotely operated articulated hydraulic boom with various tool head attachment
- Designed primarily to drive a hammer for concrete demolition; 15 ft reach and can rotate 360 degrees
- Unit weighs 3,066 lbs and operates from a 480-volt, 50-amp power source
- Can be remotely operated from up to 400 feet
- Two attachments were used for the demonstration - hydraulic hammer and excavating bucket
- Hammer - operated at 600 foot pounds with variable output of 1,000 to 1,500 beats per minute
- Bucket - smooth cutting edge with a capacity of 1/4 cubic yard
- Demonstration - demolish two concrete walls

Cleanup Authority:
Not identified

DOE Contact:
Richard Baker
DOE, Chicago Operations Office
630-252-2647
richard.baker@ch.doe.gov

Contaminants:
Radionuclides
- Beta/gamma radiation

Waste Source:
Nuclear processing operations

Type/Quantity of Media Treated:
Debris (concrete)

Purpose/Significance of Application:
Demonstration of a remotely-controlled concrete demolition system to remove radioactively contaminated concrete

Regulatory Requirements/Cleanup Goals:
- The objectives of the demonstration were to evaluate the Brokk BM150 system to remove radioactively contaminated concrete as part of a D&D project
- No specific cleanup goals were identified

Results:
- During the 16 day demonstration, the Brokk BM150 completed the demolition of two reinforced concrete shield walls, each averaging 2.5 ft thick, 12 ft long and 15 ft high
- The walls were over 3-ft thick in several areas and contained reinforced steel beams, lead shielding, and rebar
- The excavating bucket allowed the rubble to be picked up during demolition
- Primary waste generated was pieces of concrete that were loaded into containers for disposal

Cost Factors:
- Costs for the Brokk BM150 - $89,000 equipment purchase; labor costs for one operator - $185/hr; equipment and attachments lease (without operator) $775/day.
- Project unit cost for full-scale operation - $17/ft3 based on 11.4 ft3/hr
- Costs are less than the baseline technology (90-lb pavement breaker)

Description:
The Brokk BM150 is a remotely-controlled system that is used to demolish concrete for D&D projects. The system, is designed primarily to drive a hammer for concrete demolition, and can be equipped with a number of attachments. The 3,066 lb unit (weight without attachments) has a 15 ft reach and can rotate 360 degrees. The unit can be remotely operated from up to 400 feet. The Brokk BM150 was demonstrated in Building 202 of the Argonne National Laboratory-East facility.

Two attachments were used for the demonstration - a hydraulic hammer that was operated at 600 foot pounds with variable output of 1,000 to 1,500 beats per minute, and an excavating bucket that had a smooth cutting edge with a capacity of 1/4 cubic yard. The walls were over 3-ft thick in several areas and contained reinforced steel beams, lead shielding, and rebar. The unit was demonstrated on two reinforced concrete shield walls, each averaging 2.5 ft thick, 12 ft long and 15 ft high. The unit demolished these walls within 16 days, using a one-person crew. The costs of the Brokk BM150 was less than the cost of the baseline technology (90-lb pavement breaker). The system is commercially available and no implementation issued were identified.