Development of a remote maintenance system for ITER blankets

In ITER, remote maintenance is a key technology since in-vessel components such as the blanket require scheduled maintenance under severe gamma radiation. For this purpose, a rail mounted vehicle type maintenance system has been developed to handle the heavy blanket modules with the required accuracy. Its applicability to ITER blanket handling has been verified through use of a prototypical vehicle manipulator and rail transporter. In addition, bore tools using a YAG laser for welding and cutting of blanket cooling pipes, and a radiation hard periscope for viewing the blanket and first wall, have been developed. On the basis of the development of this technology, a blanket remote handling rest platform composed of full scale remote handling equipment and tools is being fabricated as one of the Seven Large R&D Projects to demonstrate the remote maintainability of the ITER blanket prior to ITER construction. The paper describes the status of these programmes.