Automatic bolting machine

Currently, remote automatic handling techniques are used in various fields in nuclear power plant facilities. For long years, Fuji Electric has been involved in research and development of remote automatic handling of nuclear fuel handling and storage facilities. In this paper, experiences in development of canning technique of the spent nuclear fuels by automatic bolting machine are introduced. In this experiment, mock-up of automatic bolting machine were fabricated, and bolts of the can with metalic seal ring were tightened. Method of bolt tightening and specifications of metalic seal ring and bolt to achieve sufficient seal performance were confirmed. In future, simplification of tightening sequence and increased number of bolting units shall be tried to achieve faster bolt tightening. (author)