David Dunning, a master technician at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, received a Significant Achievement Award for the Robotics and Remote System Division at the 2024 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Winter Conference and Expo in Orlando, Florida.
The ANS recognized Dunning, who has been with ORNL since 1983, for being instrumental in the development of the remote handling processes and the tooling required to support the first-of-its-kind mercury process system at ORNL’s Spallation Neutron Source (SNS).
A DOE Office of Science user facility, the SNS produces neutrons with an accelerator-based system that delivers short (microsecond) proton pulses to a steel target filled with liquid mercury through a process called spallation. Neutrons produced at the SNS are directed toward state-of-the-art instruments that provide a variety of capabilities to researchers across a broad range of disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, biology and materials science. The research at SNS enables discoveries that improve daily life, from better drug therapeutics to more powerful computers to safer, longer-lasting batteries.
Since joining the SNS project in late 2001, Dunning witnessed the SNS evolve from blueprints to a world-class user facility when it first began producing neutrons in 2006. “I have participated in roughly 90% of the target changes thus far, as well as major component changeouts,” said Dunning.
ANS’ s Robotic and Remote Systems Division (RRSD) presents awards and scholarships at its biennial luncheon, held during the RRSD Topical Meeting or as decided by the RRSD Executive Committee.
“David’s ingenuity and enthusiasm was critical in the deployment of a specialized dual-arm servo manipulator,” said Michael Dayton, who manages the Target & Mechanical Systems Section at the SNS. “He has supported and enhanced SNS operations for over a decade, contributing to operational improvements as a remote handling technician.”
This Oak Ridge National Laboratory news article "American Nuclear Society selects ORNL technician for Significant Achievement Award" was originally found on https://www.ornl.gov/news
