Logistics and maintenance: current status in the IFMIF DONES project

This article explains the tasks carried out within the logistics and maintenance scope of the IFMIF DONES project, which have been funded by EUROfusion. It was a challenging endeavor due to fact that IFMIF DONES is a first of a kind facility, given its irradiation characteristics. Moreover, the equipment it comprises is a combination of scientific prototypes and conventional auxiliary equipment. Additionally, its operational cycle focused on material irradiation campaigns, is entirely different from typical industrial production cycles. There are three main lines of work (virtual reality (VR) tools, maintenance policy and logistics), although the three of them are coordinated and consistent in content with one another. The VR tools section explains the tools developed using a video-game engine to analyze in detail certain critical maintenance operations. It includes simulations with programmed movements, virtual visits of the facility, and finally, interactive simulations in which the user operates virtual equipment such as bridge cranes or transport platforms using peripheral devices. There is a section dedicated to the maintenance policy, which explains the maintenance objectives, the contents of the developed Maintenance Manual, and the features compiled for preventive maintenance operations, which are organized in a spreadsheet referred to as the Maintenance Matrix. Lastly, there is a section dedicated to logistics in IFMIF DONES. This section explains and justifies the choice of modular omnidirectional platforms for transportation within the main building. It also outlines the solutions identified for transportation between buildings, and handling of certain extremely heavy elements. A subsection is included where the interaction of transport with architectural features is analyzed and proposals for removing clashes produced. Finally, the results of examination of the first installation and the commissioning phase of certain key equipment are described.

Journal article

Nuclear Fusion