The STAR facility, located at the Cadarache site, is dedicated to R&D and reconditioning of used nuclear fuels. One of its armored cells includes a “heavy” remote manipulator to be replaced.
The main function of this remote manipulator is the grip, by a two-finger clamp, at all points of activity of the cell, of objects weighing 100 kg. These maneuvers are piloted from a desk, through a thick armored porthole.
The STAR facility, located at the Cadarache site, is dedicated to R&D and reconditioning of used nuclear fuels. One of its armored cells includes a “heavy” remote manipulator to be replaced.
The main function of this remote manipulator is the grip, by a two-finger clamp, at all points of activity of the cell, of objects weighing 100 kg. These maneuvers are piloted from a desk, through a thick armored porthole.
The main expected characteristics of the new heavy remote manipulator are:
— transverse movement at the airframe, of approximately 4 m amplitude, provided by a motorized carrier bridge, running on existing airframe tracks at an altitude of approximately 3.50 m;
— transverse movement at the carrier deck, of approximately 2.5 m amplitude, provided by a motorized trolley on the carrier deck;
— vertical movements of the remote manipulator arm, of approximately 2 m amplitude, provided by a motorized hoist and telescope assembly attached to the trolley;
— articulated movements of the remote manipulator arm, attached to the vertical telescope.
The six movements are shoulder rotation, rotation elbow, wrist rotation, telescope wrist, rotation clamp, clamp clamp.
The particular environmental constraints of the equipment are:
— high level of ambient irradiation, linked to the presence of irradiated fuel pencils, from some nuclear power plants;
— operations of installation of equipment and then maintenance, exclusively by remote handling (personal access prohibited in cell). Ease of use, reliability and maintainability of equipment are paramount criteria;
— supply of weak and strong currents by a single through scabbard, positioned on the rear wall of the cell.
The delivery will include the following steps:
— design and implementation study of equipment, earthquake sizing;
— manufacture of equipment, including load-bearing bridge, trolley, arm, electric crossing, electrical connections, electrical cabinet, control panel. Factory test on a model device representative of the cell;
— installation of equipment on site, restricted access nuclear zone, site reception test;
— delivery of a builder folder.