Maintenance of a high activity level reprocessing cell in the Marcoule pilot plant by mean of a Ma23 electronic telemanipulator

The Marcoule Pilot Facility (APM) is used to test reprocessing methods and equipment under actual operating conditions with spent fuel at semi-industrial throughput rates and during demonstration runs of significant duration. In addition to the general objective of continuous long-term operation, the facility is also used for radioactive testing and qualification of specific process equipment items for planned or future reprocessing plants. This pilot function covers not only process operations but also other areas including remote manipulation. A remote manipulation system using an MA23 M electronic telemanipulator will be submitted to qualification testing in this way under actual operating conditions exposed to high irradiation levels together with numerous mechanical devices