Development of robot technology to contribute to 1F decommissioning (3). Remote fuel removal system from unit 2 spent fuel pool

In order to expedite the removal of stored fuel from the spent fuel pool of Unit 2 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, where the building remains intact without hydrogen explosion even after the Great East Japan Earthquake, a method was devised. This method involves installing fuel handling equipment at an opening on the exterior wall of the building operating floor, without dismantling the upper part of the building, to remotely retrieve fuel from the pool. Due to dimensional constraints of the opening, conventional gantry cranes cannot be applied to the fuel handling equipment. Therefore, existing boom-type crane technology is being adapted for the fuel handling equipment, considering seismic resistance, remote operability, safety functions, etc., to proceed with the manufacture of equipment for initiating fuel retrieval. (J.P.N.)