TY - JOUR
T1 - ITER Upper Port Plug handling cask system assessment and design proposals
AU - Pustjens, J.
AU - Friconneau, J.P.
AU - Heemskerk, C.J.M.
AU - Koning, J.F.
AU - Martins, J.P.
AU - Rosielle, P.C.J.N.
AU - Steinbuch, M.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The current design of the ITER cask for Upper Port Plugs has been evaluated. Careful reduction of the number of mechanical degrees of freedom is an opportunity to relax the tolerances in the design, resulting in cost reduction and reliability increase. A new kinematical design for the tractor module has a higher stiffness to weight ratio, reduces actuator forces by a factor four and minimizes cross-talk between lift and rotation motion. Non-cantilevered handling is recommended to reduce wheel loads on the tractor by a factor six and to simplify guidance. At the system level the tubular guide (TG) is proposed, a semi-permanent 3.5 m long tube which is an extension of the Upper Port. Cask docking is simplified and the risk of the cask tilting is prevented. Redesigning the system concept is recommended and the TG looks promising. Since a system level redesign impacts the external interfaces, overall feasibility has to be investigated.
AB - The current design of the ITER cask for Upper Port Plugs has been evaluated. Careful reduction of the number of mechanical degrees of freedom is an opportunity to relax the tolerances in the design, resulting in cost reduction and reliability increase. A new kinematical design for the tractor module has a higher stiffness to weight ratio, reduces actuator forces by a factor four and minimizes cross-talk between lift and rotation motion. Non-cantilevered handling is recommended to reduce wheel loads on the tractor by a factor six and to simplify guidance. At the system level the tubular guide (TG) is proposed, a semi-permanent 3.5 m long tube which is an extension of the Upper Port. Cask docking is simplified and the risk of the cask tilting is prevented. Redesigning the system concept is recommended and the TG looks promising. Since a system level redesign impacts the external interfaces, overall feasibility has to be investigated.
U2 - 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2011.03.005
DO - 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2011.03.005
M3 - Article
SN - 0920-3796
VL - 86
SP - 1937
EP - 1940
JO - Fusion Engineering and Design
JF - Fusion Engineering and Design
IS - 9-11
ER -