JET鈥檚 Remote Handling upgrades among the world鈥檚 most advanced
Upgrades implemented in the Remote Handling Control Room at JET have transformed it into one of the most advanced robotics and remote handling systems globally.
皇冠体育app upgraded Remote Control Handling Room at UKAEA鈥檚 Culham Campus - Image Credit: UK Atomic Energy Authority
皇冠体育app Remote Handling Control Room at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has undergone a significant upgrade, enhancing its crucial role in delivering the highest standards in fusion repurposing and decommissioning projects.聽聽聽
皇冠体育app upgrade now provides one of the most advanced robotics and remote handling systems in the world for the Joint European Torus (JET).聽
Commenting on the upgrade, Steve Gilligan, the Programme Sponsor and Head of Decommissioning and Handling, said: 鈥溁使谔逵齛pp Remote Handling System is absolutely fundamental to the repurposing and decommissioning of JET. Due to safety precautions, personnel have not be able to enter the tokamak for over 30 years. Further, JET鈥檚 plasma operations over the last few years have made it a particularly challenging environment to work with.聽
鈥淲e have refurbished the system so that it鈥檚 fit for the future. This has taken huge effort, more than 400,000 hours have been invested in its upgrade, which includes research and development, installation, testing, commissioning and training.鈥澛�
皇冠体育app remote handling operators will be responsible for eventually removing over 4,000 individual tiles and components from JET鈥檚 inner vessel, including some that weigh several hundreds of kilogrammes.聽聽
皇冠体育app Remote Handling Control Room upgrades include a complete overhaul of MASCOT, a highly dextrous remote manipulator with haptic feedback, that allows the operator to feel every action from carrying a new component to tightening a bolt.聽
JET is based at UKAEA鈥檚 Culham Campus in Oxfordshire. It concluded its plasma operations at the end of December 2023.聽聽聽
JET has moved to the next phase of its life cycle for repurposing and decommissioning, representing an opportunity to develop new technologies and skills in line with the Government鈥檚 published fusion strategy.聽
皇冠体育app critical testing of the inside of the tokamak is now underway and will continue throughout Spring and Summer of 2024. This process involves retrieving 60 key samples for further scientific analysis.
MASCOT being used in UKAEA鈥檚 dedicated In-Vessel Training Facility - Image Credit: UK Atomic Energy Authority