Hot cell engineering for a nuclear facility

• ProjectNuclear facility with process hot cells
• SystemsHot cells, enclosures, shielded doors, handling tools
• DisciplineMechanical design and structural analysis
• Deliverable3D models, drawings, calculation reports, welding documentation and leak report

The challenge

A hot cell is a shielded enclosure where radioactive material is handled remotely. Every enclosure, door and in-cell tool must be unambiguously defined, structurally verified and documented for fabrication, and the assembly must demonstrate a leak rate within the admissible value.

Scope

• Structural analysis of the hot cells: static and seismic finite element cases
• Weld layout and verification on the enclosures
• 3D models, drawings and welding documentation
• Design and technical documentation of in-cell tools for fuel element handling
• Design and documentation of shielded doors separating rooms and cells, including shutter and MAD
• Admissible leak-rate calculation and leak report
• Bolt and weld verification to Eurocode
• Technical specifications and design-for-manufacture documentation

How we worked

A single thread from concept to drawing. The architecture defined at the outset remained the reference through to the manufacturing specification, with no intermediate reinterpretation.

Tools designed for remote operation. Every in-cell tool was designed around the remote manoeuvre: couplings, reach and foreseen failure points.

Leak-tightness demonstrated, not assumed. The admissible leak rate was calculated and documented in a leak report delivered with the engineering package.