The MERC maintenance system

Maintenance in the modern commercial reprocessing plants is a subject of the highest priority in order to guarantee availability for the whole life of the plant. The design concept of the UP3 reprocessing plant at La Hague identified several categories of equipment according to their maintenance design principles. Among them, Standard Process Equipment such as pumps, valves, ejectors and filters which need periodic maintenance. These equipment items are designed in removable modular form to avoid the need to disconnect piping. Removal is performed under shielding and without breach of containment through the use of a transfer cask that is connected to the cell containing the equipment to be removed. This transfer cask is called MERC (Mobile Equipment Replacement Cask). Containment is preserved by an air-tight system consisting of coupled doors, with a special connecting gasket. This system can remove and replace failed equipment, without spreading contamination to work areas. (author)