Remote cutting by a laser unit for dismantling the nuclear installations

Información del proyecto

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: FI4D950005

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de inicio 1 Enero 1996

Fecha de finalización 31 Diciembre 1998

Financiado con arreglo a

• Specific research and training programme in the field of nuclear safety and safeguards, 1994-1998

Coste total

Sin datos

Aportación de la UE

Sin datos

Coordinado por

Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)
France

Objetivo

1. Objectives
Following a detailed investigation of operating constraints in decommissioning programmes and after preliminary testing, a laser cutting configuration was selected with the following characteristics: Nd-YAG source,
fibre-optic waveguide, no cover gas, and an optical system capable of focusing at working distances of 200, 500 or 1000 mm.
Our objective is to cut metal plates, initially in thickness up to 20 mm, at workpiece-to-lens distances of up to one meter, using a Nd-YAG source with a maximum power rating of 1.2 kW (standard operating power: 800 W), while generating very little secondary waste.
Radius Engineering will manufacture innovative Zn-S lenses with high performance antireflection coatings that are well suited for use with the infrared radiation of the Nd-YAG source. Three lenses will be fabricated, with focal lengths of 200, 500 and 1000 mm.
Cutting tests will be performed at Saclay, in the cell used under contract FI2D-0013. The optimum laser operating parameters (including cutting rate) will be determined for each workpiece thickness, material grade (stainlee and mild steel) and focal length; the secondary waste production will then be characterized in each configuration. The test results may be imported into the DB-TOOLS data base if desired.
2. Expected Benefits
The main advantage of the project is to allow the use of laser cutting for decommissioning operations: i.e. using fibre optics with a remote Nd-YAG laser source, and using an optical system allowing suitable workpiece standoff dimensions (up to one metre), making a cover gas unnecessary and allowing work to progress in cramped locations.
The system will be capable of cutting parts of complex shapes without close range contour tracking, thus avoiding possible collisions and making complex automatic control provisions unnecessary. Thicknesses of up to 20 mm may be cut with a laser rated at no more than 1 kW (compared with the next generation of Nd-YAG lasers rated at up to 3 kW). Cutting of heavy -gauge parts in several passes may be tested at a later stage of the project.
The laser cutting system will not generate large amounts of secondary waste; the system will be compared with the tools tested under the previous contract (FI2D-0013). Remote cutting without the use of a cover gas is a highly innovative solution that contradicts published work on the subject to date. The CEA intends implementing the CLAUDIN process in decommissioning projects as early as 1998.

Ámbito científico (EuroSciVoc)

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Programa(s)

• EAEC-NFS 2 - Specific research and training programme in the field of nuclear safety and safeguards, 1994-1998

Tema(s)

• 030401 - Development and innovative dismantling techniques

Convocatoria de propuestas

Datos no disponibles

Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA)

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: Centre d'Études Nucléaires de la Vallée du Rhône Cité de Marcoule ; 30205 Bagnols-sur-Cèze ; Francia
• Coste total: Sin datos

Participantes (1)

Radius Engineering NV

Bélgica

• Aportación de la UE: Sin datos
• Dirección: 138E,Meersstraat ; 9000 Gent
• Coste total: Sin datos