Cask Handling Cranes

While casks have been an essential part of the nuclear industry’s transportation of radioactive materials for decades, that role has significantly expanded in recent years, particularly with respect to the storage of spent fuel for plant sites around the world. Spent fuel transportation has long been established as an important part of the industrial activities in the backend of the nuclear fuel cycle, especially for the reprocessing industry.  
Konecranes Cask handling cranes are specialized cranes which utilizes the latest generation of single-failure-proof technology to move nuclear spent fuel safely and efficiently. We understand the complexity of nuclear cask handling, and the importance of coordinating precision operation, safety, and reliability.

Cask Handling Crane
  • Patented grapple design 
  • Interchangeable tools system 
  • Pl-d, PL-e, SL3 safety functions 
  • Plant storage automation interface 
  • Fail-safe operator controls 
  • variable speed controls 
  • Integrated cask grapple system 
  • Multiple redundant single failure proof features 

 

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  • Designed to maximize the working cycles per hour  
  • Precise and fast load handling with modern controls 
  • Longer wheel and rail lifetime with forged steel wheels with precision bearing housing 
  • Longer life and more return on investment due to core of lifting components 
  • Reduced vibration with stiff box-type steel structure  
  • easy access to electrical enclosures 
  • Added safety with Redundancy in all critical component 
  • Simplified and minimized maintenance costs with easy cleaning

Cask Transporters

Spent fuel from a nuclear power reactor emits high levels of both radiation and heat, and so is stored in water pools adjacent to the reactor to allow the initial heat and radiation levels to decrease. Typically, used fuel is stored onsite for at least five months before it can be transported, although it may be stored there long-term.  
Konecranes spent fuel nuclear cask transporters are designed to handle most nuclear dry storage casks safely and efficiently. We provide high level of safety with load drop protection, ergonomic controls to simplify operation, small turning radius with full rotational capability for efficient transportation and easy installation. Our transporters are available in both rubber tire and track-driven designs capable of handling up to 350 tons. 

Cask Transporter
  • Load drop protection system 
  • Fail-safe operator controls 
  • safety catching device integrated with the lifting system 
  • User monitoring system 
  • Heavy-duty hydraulic motors  
  • Overload protection system 
  • On-board diagnostics 
  • Rubber tire propulsion design, with aircraft quality tires 

 

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  • Flexible operation for different environment 
  • Precise positioning and steering capability even in tight spaces 
  • Adjustable lifting beam for various cask configurations 
  • Precision movement of lift tower with guide rollers  
  • Load drop protection 
  • Driving precision with high torque at zero speed  
  • Unique design prevents roadway and haul path damage 
  • Simplified and minimized maintenance costs with Modular design 
  • Due to failsafe design load can be hold in case of any failure such as power loss 
  • Foam filled aircraft type tires cannot go flat 

Fuel Handling Cranes

The fuel handling equipment is a remote-controlled apparatus capable of handling intensely radiating fuel assemblies in the fuel handling cell of an encapsulation plant. Konecranes nuclear fuel handling units feature multiple redundant safety measures and single failure proof design for maximum safety in a nuclear fuel environment. 

fuel handling crane

FOR RELIABILITY 

  • Multiple redundant features 
  • Absolute encoders for reliable positioning 
  • Real-time operational feedback on operators console 

FOR EASIER, LESS FREQUENT MAINTENANCE 

  • Direct access to maintenance points 
  • On-board diagnostics simplify maintenance 
  • Stainless steel mast and fuel grapple construction to prevent corrosion 

FOR SAFETY AND ERGONOMICS 

  • Single failure proof hoist design 
  • Fail-safe operator controls 
  • Multiple cameras maximize operator visibility 
  • Full bridge walkways for safer operator egress 
  • Provisions for emergency operation of grapple 
  • Viewing windows on floor and mast for improved line of sight 
  • Removable operator console for storage outside of containment and after-outage training and maintenance 

FOR LOWEST LIFECYCLE COST 

  • Design based on total cost of ownership 
  • Designed for minimization of spares 
  • Rollers in mast can be removed and replaced without disassembling the mast 
  • Maintenance-friendly design simplifies maintenance process  

FOR PERFORMANCE 

  • The bridge and trolley utilize variable speed motors and controls for precision movements and automated positioning (Accuracy +/- 0.5 mm) 
  • User-friendly operator controls 
  • User-friendly touch screen designed to allow use by operators wearing multiple layers of gloves 
  • Power rotational mast available 
  • Automated sipping in-line with mast to allow parallel fuel movements while sipping 

 

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Nuclear Polar Cranes

Polar cranes are used for fuel assembly purposes and reactor head removal and replacement. Used to handle multipurpose lifting needs, polar cranes are comprised of a main hoist, auxiliary hoist, maintenance jib crane, and containment inspection man lift. These cranes can perform various maintenance and operational duties while ensuring optimal quality and safety. Polar cranes operate on a circular runway located near the spring line of the containment/reactor building. These cranes are primarily used to removal and replacement of the reactor head, as well as during the refuelling outages. 
Konecranes polar cranes is designed for multipurpose usage that maximizes operational capability by combining numerous lifting features into a single compact and weight-efficient trolley. The design improves productivity and reliability by providing four primary lifting systems: 

  • Main Hoist and Auxiliary Hoist - Perform typical plant maintenance and operational functions 
  • Maintenance jib crane - Provide lifting capability during maintenance operations 

  • Containment inspection man lift - Inspecting and maintaining the containment dome 

    Nuclear Polar Crane

  • Single failure proof hoist assembly 
  • Seismic durability classification 
  • Emergency retrieval system 
  • Nuclear quality compliant 
  • Telescoping maintenance lift for reactor dome maintenance and inspection 
  • Single failure proof main hoist for critical lifts 
  • Redundant travel motors 
  • Removable operator console 
  • Dual bridge encoder 
  • Continuous-duty variable frequency motor drive 
  • Fail-safe operator controls 
  • Electric cable reels for cameras and sensors 
  • Pneumatic cable reels for grapple operation 
  • Full bridge walkways  
  • Power rotational mast  
  • Stainless steel mast and fuel grapple 
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  • Improved safety with redundancy in all critical component 
  • Single failure proof design  
  • Optimized dead weight supports building structural cost savings 
  • Modular electrical enclosure designed for quick maintenance 
  • 360-degree circular movement with end carriages design for  
  • Wheel and axle load-drop protection 
  • Longer wheel and rail lifetime due to Forged steel wheels with precision bearing housing  
  • Precise positioning with absolute encoders 
  • optimized dead weight and minimized costs with robust design  
  • User-friendly and fail-safe operator controls 
  • Precise movements and automated positioning with continuous-duty variable frequency motor drive  
  • Safe and accurate alignment brought by dual bridge encoder 
  • Full bridge walkways for operator safety and ease of maintenance 
  • Real-time operational feedback on operator’s console 

Turbine Hall Cranes

Cranes play a crucial role in modern nuclear plants, where stringent regulations are applied. One major other factor is improvement of bottom line hence equipment’s which have low initial cost, optimum usage with low maintenance and reduced impact of structural cost is more preferred. 
Konecranes has supplied more than 100 large turbine hall cranes to nuclear power plants as well as hundreds of these types of cranes to non-nuclear power plants. The turbine building cranes can be flexible and can operate in manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic modes. These are versatile, reliable, ergonomic cranes with good hook approaches, low weight, compact and robust design.  

Turbine hall crane


 

Manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic options 

  • High rope drum/rope ratio 
  • Optional Smart features 
  • Advanced crane controls system 
  • Fail-safe operator controls 
  • Overload protection system 
  • Optional single failure proof design is available 
  • User-friendly operator controls 
  • Optimized hook approaches 

 

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  • Flexibility with Manual, semi-automatic or fully automatic modes. 
  • Increased floor space usage with compact design 
  • Maximized lifting capability due to optimized hook approaches 
  • Simplify and minimize maintenance costs 
  • Smooth travel and variable speeds. 
  • Direct access to maintenance points 
  • Overload protection system 
  • Weight optimization to reduce overall cost 
  • Electrical enclosure designed for easy access and quick maintainability 

Hevi Lift Hoists

The Hevi-lift hoist has a history over 80 years and is widely used in the nuclear industry. It is known for its long life, quiet operation, superior strength, and quality. The Hevi-lift hoist makes a perfect choice for nuclear containment as it is made from materials suitable for all reactor types. Hevi-lift hoists are used in various applications throughout a nuclear power facility; from standard lifts to safety-related, highly critical lifts. 
 

Heavy Lift Hoist

•    Polar crane 
•    Fuel machine 
•    Spent fuel machine 
•    Containment hatch hoist 
•    Cask crane 
•    Turbine crane 
•   Transfer crane 
•    Upender hoist 
•    Rad waste crane 
•    Pump house crane 
•    General maintenance 
•    Dry well hoist 


 

STANDARD FEATURES 

  • Inverter on hoist, trolley, and bridge motions 
  • IP / NEMA rated cubicles and motors 
  • Mechanical load brake 
  • Minimal zinc and aluminium 
  • Ultimate block-operated limit switch 
  • Standard quality ISO 9001:2008 

OPTIONAL FEATURES 

  • Single-failure-proof model 
  • Nuclear containment grade paint 
  • Halogen free cabling and wiring 
  • 2-speed motors and controls 
  • Manual hoist or trolley operation 
  • UL electrics and controls 
  • Seismic qualification 
  • Nuclear quality ASME NQA-1 or 10CFR50 App. B 

Increased floor space usage with compact design 

  • Maximized lifting capability due to optimized hook approaches 
  • Simplify and minimize maintenance costs 
  • Smooth travel and variable speeds. 
  • Overload protection system 
  • Nuclear quality compliant 

Customer reference stories

Nuclear customer story image
Nuclear customer story image
Constellation Energy, United States

Specialized crane design solves load stress challenge

125-ton single failure proof crane provided by Konecranes is possibly the most technologically innovative crane of its kind ever built for the nuclear industry. Our customer uses this unique crane system to handle nuclear dry storage casks safely, efficiently and reliably.
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Konecranes technicians
Konecranes technicians
FirstEnergy, United States

Precise planning pays off

Conductor bar replacement and modernization to increase crane capacity completed in just three days.
Read more

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