European test blanket ancillary equipment unit development

This paper presents the recent results of the biggest removable component of the European ITER test blanket system (TBS), the ancillary equipment unit (AEU) development. The subsystem components are located inside the AEU, which ensures quick and reliable operation, maintenance and transport of these port cell components. The initiative concept of AEU frame structure was very similar to the preliminary design of the transfer cask but the self weight was already too high. Hence a significant structure optimization work, based on FEM analyses, has been implemented. The concept of support structure has been changed, and the weight appreciably has been decreased.In the next step the layout of subsystem components and routing of pipes have been developed taking into account the maintainability requirements of components and an additional function of AEU. It will be also the basic support of remote handling equipment, which will be deployed to the port interspace for pipes connection and disconnection operations.