CONTRIBUTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEVICE FOR THE DECOMMISSIONING OF THE HORIZONTAL FUEL CHANNELS IN THE CANDU 6 NUCLEAR REACTOR. DECOMMISSIONING DEVICE OPERATING PRESENTATION.

This paper presents a solution proposed by the authors in order to achieve of a cutting and extracting device operating panel for the decommissioning of the horizontal fuel channels in the CANDU 6 nuclear reactor. The Cutting and Extraction Device (CED) is fully automated, connected by wires to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and controlled from a Human Machine Interface (HMI). The Cutting and Extraction Device (CED) performs the dismantling, cutting and extraction of the fuel channel components, moving with variable speed, temperature monitoring and video surveillance inside the pipe, unblock and extract the channel closure plug (from End Fitting - EF), unblock and extract the channel shield plug (from Lattice Tube - LT), block and cut the middle of the pressure tube, block and cut the end of the pressure tube, block and extract the half of pressure tube. All operations can be monitored and controlled from a operating panel. The PLC fully command the device in automatic or manually mode, to control the internal sensors, transducers, electrical motors, video surveillance and pyrometers for monitoring cutting place temperature. The device controller has direct access to the measured values with these sensors, interprets and processes them, preparing the next action after confirming the action in progress. The design of the Cutting and Extraction Device (CED) shall be achieved according to the particular features of the fuel channel components to be dismantled and to ensure radiation protection of workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]