Equipment Development for the Defuelling Phase
During certain phases of nuclear power plant decommissioning, spent fuel must be transferred from the reactor pool into dry storage containers.These containers are massive structures, standing at nearly 5 metres high and weighing over 115 tonnes when loaded. Their handling leaves no room for inaccuracy.
In the nuclear environment, standard solutions are rarely applicable. The equipment must be specifically designed for existing infrastructure. KARL HUGO engineers regularly face this type of technical challenge.
Development of a System for Handling Critical Loads
The current project involves developing and manufacturing equipment for handling dry storage containers used in Defuelling operations. The objective is to enable the safe movement and positioning of extremely heavy loads. To meet these requirements, our team has combined expertise from various areas:- Mechanical design
- Strength calculations
- Analysis of operational constraints
- Fabrication of welded assemblies
- Quality assurance and technical documentation
From Design to On-site Installation
KARL HUGO's involvement in this project extends beyond the manufacturing of the equipment to include on-site installation. The team is also directly involved in the installation of the equipment at the power plant and its integration into the existing infrastructure.This continuous link between engineering, manufacturing and installation enables KARL HUGO to act as a single technical point of contact until commissioning, which is a decisive factor when handling loads exceeding one hundred tonnes in such a sensitive environment as a nuclear power plant.
Developing Equipment for Existing Infrastructures
Defuelling projects highlight a common reality in industry, namely that new equipment must be integrated into existing structures.The challenge in such projects is translating specific technical constraints into solutions that can operate reliably in an environment with virtually zero tolerance for error. This is precisely where KARL HUGO's expertise comes into play.
