Mock-up test on key components of ITER blanket remote handling system

Abstract

The maintenance operation of the ITER in-vessel component, such as a blanket and divertor, must be executed by the remote equipment because of the high gamma-ray environment. During the Engineering Design Activity (EDA), the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (then called as Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute) had been fabricated the prototype of the vehicle manipulator system for the blanket remote handling and confirmed feasibility of this system including automatic positioning of the blanket and rail deployment procedure of the articulated rail. The ITER agreement, which entered into force in the last year, formally decided that Japan will procure the blanket remote handling system and the JAEA, as the Japanese Domestic Agency, is continuing several R&Ds so that the system can be procured smoothly. The residual key issues after the EDA are rail connection and cable handling. The mock-ups of the rail connection mechanism and the cable handling system were fabricated from the last year and installed at the JAEA Naka Site in this March. The former was composed of the rail connecting mechanism, two rail segments and their handling systems. The latter one utilized a slip ring, which implemented 80 lines for power and 208 lines for signal, because there is an electrical contact between the rotating spool and the fixed base. The basic function of these systems was confirmed through the mock-up test. The rail connection mechanism, for example, could accept misalignment of 1.5–2 mm at least. The future test plan is also mentioned in the paper.