click here to return to the main applications page

Nuclear

Nuclear Container Handling System use EMA Linear Actuators

Dynamically balanced manipulators for handling radioactive materials. EMA actuators are used to move the slave arm relative to the master arm in a tilt and skew motion. The actuators are an integral part of the mechanism and act as load bearing struts, carrying the full reactive loads. The models used are the 5kN and 2.5kN continuous (model C) with 24VDC motors.

Nuclear Container Lift Positioned with Rolarams

Application
Container handling system for British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Solution
4 off A075 Rolaram linear actuators operate a scissor lift mechanism, which raises and lowers containers as part of the encapsulation process.

Screw Jacks Position JET Manipulator Precisely

The Joint European Torus Project (JET) has a key focus to investigate the potential for safe, clean and a virtually limitless energy source for future generations. This state of the art research facility involves scientists from around the globe.

The JET machine was built to achieve nuclear fusion and is a large tokamak device of approximately 15 metres in diameter and 12 metres high. At the heart of the machine there is a toroidal (ring-shaped) vacuum vessel of major radius 2.96 metres with a D-shaped cross-section 2.5 metres 4.2 metres. The linear dimensions of the plasma confined in this vacuum vessel are within a factor of two or three of those expected in a commercial reactor.

A positioning manipulator used in partnership with the tokamak machine has the ability to carry out key operations, including removing and replacing beam limiter plates located in the outer wall of the Torus. The manipulator has an articulated boom that is 9 metres long and can handle loads weighing up to 1 tonne. The main tilt and side tilt of the boom is controlled using 200kN E-Series metric machine screw jacks. For the main tilt a screw jack at the rear of the arm levers the arm about a point to angle it in a vertical plane. The screw jack for the side tilt mechanism pivots the arm radially around the central axis running along the length of the arm. For the required precision and accuracy anti-backlash screw jacks were specified in order to minimise positioning error at the end of the manipulator, as movement is magnified along the length of the arm.