Development and application of high volume remote handling systems in support of JET and ITER

The Joint European Torus (JET) Remote Handling System has evolved from a small scale maintenance capability to one of high efficiency large volume installations. The Enhanced Performance 2 shutdown 2010-2011 for example, required the replacement of many thousands of components ranging from about 100 g to 130 kg in weight. The scale of this type of operation and the necessity to maximise operational availability intensified the demands for high productivity whilst maintaining the necessary high standards for precision, reliability, cleanliness, and operational security. This paper discusses the developments in design, control, maintenance, preparation and operation of the current state of the art remote handling facilities at JET. It explores how the experience of over 20,000 h of operations has developed the applied methodology and how this could be appropriate to ITER and other facilities requiring complex remote maintenance, where extensive, high productivity remote handling operations will be essential. It also discusses the advances that have been made in management and presentation of operational data within the command, control and human machine interfaces (HMI) systems, along with the supporting operational databases. (C) 2012 A. Loving. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.