From nuclear power plants to neutron scattering - Custom Cameras

Power plants based on nuclear reactors are vital to the UK economy, generating around 15% of our electricity, with plans to increase this to 25% by 2050. But nuclear reactors are unforgiving places with high radiation levels making areas inaccessible to people. Regular inspections are mandatory, so any inspection equipment, such as cameras, must have a high radiation tolerance to operate in this environment.

Custom Cameras are a UK based company dedicated to designing and manufacturing cameras that can withstand very high levels of radiation without compromising performance. They produce both standard products and bespoke solutions, with a 40-year history serving the nuclear industry across the world.

The ILL – Institut Laue Langevin, based in Grenoble, France, generates subatomic particles (neutrons) using a nuclear reactor. Ensuring structural integrity is maintained within the reactor is vital to the safe operation of the facility. In 2022 the ILL released a call for tender for two cameras plus lighting and video equipment to inspect parts of the reactor in accordance with safety regulations.

The solution needed to be able to inspect an in-curved grid within the reactors. Cameras need to inspect the integrity of a metallic mesh at an awkward angle, where standard camera configurations were unable to reach. This meant ILL needed a bespoke solution that could be adapted to meet very specific requirements. In addition, because of the hazardous environment the cameras operate in, equipment doesn’t tend to be repaired as it becomes radiation damaged, hence high quality and reliability were prioritised. Finally, the cameras needed to be installed during the period the ILL was in shutdown, so timely delivery was vital.

With over 40 years in the nuclear and defence industries, Custom Cameras supply a wide variety of standard products to the nuclear industry but their main interest is in bespoke solutions. Andy Brownlow, managing director, says, “Radiation tolerance, high quality engineering and systems reliability is an essential ingredient for our customers in order to support them on critical inspections. Our systems perform exceptionally well in very high radiation environments, and we test and verify these key performance criteria with specialists including the Dalton Institute in Cumbria and Radtest at Harwell campus in Oxfordshire.”

Custom Cameras also have experience in the Big Science supply through the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, a particle accelerator also on the Harwell campus.

Over the last 20 years Custom Cameras have developed their business offerings to industry in providing customised and bespoke camera systems, and now 30% of their contracted work is providing innovative bespoke solutions. “We aim for the very specialist market where we can truly add most technical value – we actively seek and engage in technically challenging projects.”

Custom Cameras were introduced to the ILL through the UK Industrial Liaison Office, who set up meetings with technical experts at the ILL.

“It was a really positive process,” says Andy, “We had regular discussions as the project progressed, the detailed technical information exchange was very well received, and the procurement process was simple, responsive and efficient – fantastic. It was very much a team effort, and that relationship helped ensure everything was completed and delivered on schedule. In fact, we actually delivered the project early. Custom Cameras went over to the ILL to train their engineers on the camera systems operation, and then were invited back to the ILL to see the in-curved grid inspection taking place.”

Custom Cameras had recently gone through significant changes to their operating model in order to align the business with its continued success and Company growth.

Andy said, “Working with the ILL was really helpful in getting our re-brand out there and reminding European customer communities what the UK has to offer – spreading the message that we continue to be innovative, produce high quality products, are competitively priced and deliver on time.

“It was also very satisfying for us as engineers – we like the difficult challenges and problem solving and thinking about what technologies can be developed and delivered for the future.