November 7, 2022
We’re expanding! After successfully securing additional office and laboratory space for the group, work has begun on developing the spaces to meet the needs of the group. The expansion will take place over three phases with the primary goals of developing and expanding the groups molten salt and analytical capabilities.

The Vision
Combined, the new spaces cover approximately 135 sq m (1453 sq ft) which will more than double the current office and laboratory spaces currently occupied by SNUNFC at SNU. A new 22-seater office will house current and future students on Master and Ph.D. programs, including the Integrated Major Program in High Level Waste Management, which represents Phase 1. As part of the expansion a new laboratory devoted to Molten Salt Research will be kitted out during phase 2, supported by dedicated analytical laboratory space phase 3.

Phase (1) – Completed

Phase 1 was completed during summer of
2022 with students being able to move in by the end of July giving them much needed space to pursue their studies. The new expanded office space is capable of housing upto 22 students on Master and Ph.D. programs, as well as space for a number of internship students. Refurbishment of this space has given much needed relief to the existing office setup which saw nine students hot-desking a single conference table!

Phase (2) – Begun
Phase 2 represents the largest refurbishment challenge as part of the new laboratory refit. Phase 2 will be a dedicated molten salt laboratory and will be equivalent in size to the groups the existing laboratory space which currently houses all three research teams of SNUNFC (Molten Salt Team, Deep Eutectic Team, and Water Chemistry Team). Once kitted out, the entire molten salt team will relocate, freeing up much needed space within the existing laboratory for the remaining two teams.

To support the on-going molten salt research within SNUNFC the new laboratory space will be fitted out with three gloveboxes, one of which is a custom designed T-shape glovebox “train” with three chambers, four furnaces and ports for sensor and laser pass through. A fumehood, storage units and accompanying support infrastructure such as gas manifold, water and ventilation lines will also be fitted. The new T-shaped glovebox train will soon become the main workhorse of the MS team providing much needed furnace space for short, medium and long-term studies in MS operability, in-situ online sensing, AI and machine learning electrochemical sensing, electrochemical treatment and recycling of fission products and nuclear materials, component corrosion, and other related research. The MS laboratory will house:
TGA Glovebox – One-person glovebox housing a dedicated TGA-DSC
MS Glovebox – Two-person glovebox with furnaces for training and experimental design trials
T-shape Glovebox – Six-person glovebox “train” for molten salt studies
Laser tables – Two laser tables for in-situ and online analysis of molten salt systems
MS Autosampler – Custom built autosampler for automated MS sampling – In development
Salt purification system – In development
Gas manifold – 21 cylinder manifold
Fumehood – ductless fumehood for ICP sample preparation and electrode cleaning
Desiccator chemical storage cabinets
Chemical storage cabinets
Basic utilities (Electricity, Ventilation, & Water) have now been fitted awaiting delivery of the gloveboxes and other equipment. Next the gas manifold is scheduled for installation before receiving the first two gloveboxes (TGA Glovebox & MS Glovebox) in early November. Mid-November will see the arrival of the T-shape Glovebox with all fitting and testing being completed by December. By the end of the year the remainder of the support equipment (Fumehood, storage, etc) should have been received and fitted.
Basic utilities have now been fitted
Phase (3) – The future

Phase 3 will consist of a dedicated analytical room designed to support the entire group. This space, approximately half the size of the new MS laboratory, will provide room for much needed analytical and support equipment, with considerations for SEM-EDS, Microscopes, 3D printers and more. Work on this, the final phase of the laboratory expansion, will initially be quick with the installation of bench space planned early November. However, equipment acquisition is likely to take decidedly longer and likely to take a year or so until being fully kitted out to completely match the groups needs. Work has already begun with the upgrading of light fittings and electrical ports. The analytical room will also serve as the ingress/egress point for both the MS laboratory and analytical room ensuring a safe controlled flow of users in and out of the laboratory.

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