Neutral beam remote cutting & welding development

Abstract It is recognised that ITER will be the first nuclear installation where welding and cutting of pipes are performed routinely under Remote Handling conditions. Ultra-high vacuum class welding and cutting are highly skilled tasks and demand the precise control of parameters such as component geometry, joint fit-up and tool placement to give just some examples. Remote deployment of tools, necessary due to the hazardous radioactive environment, implies limited dexterity, limited vision and reduced manoeuvrability compared to manual deployment by a skilled human operator. Special considerations in the design of remote handling cutting/welding tooling must therefore be made together with rigorous testing in order to ensure the consistent creation of the optimum joint. Maintenance of the pipes is critical for ensuring availability of the Heating Neutral Beam and the Diagnostic Neutral Beam, and so in turn the availability of one of the principal heating systems supporting the ITER machine operation. The implications of a failure in either the tooling or the finished joint are serious; this together with the first of a kind deployment of such tooling by remote handling merits a significant R&D activity.