The through life contribution of computer simulation to remote reactor inspection equipment

The through life benefits of computer simulation to remote inspection have been demonstrated by application to the development and deployment of a boiler inspection manipulator at Torness Power Station. The task was particularly challenging as a result of the required placement precision compared to the overall length of the device and the cluttered environment in which it is to operate. Use of a simulation tool (ENVISION) contributed to the success of the project in proving the design concept, allowing early commitment to manufacture, facilitating rapid deployment route development, assisting with operator training, and providing operator confidence during inspection campaigns. All these benefits were achieved as a result of the accuracy with which the simulation was created despite its scale and complexity. As a result of the success of this application it is planned to adopt computer simulations of the main manipulators deployed on the pile cap during the forthcoming outage at Torness Power Station