Kurion Receives Fukushima Robotics Contract

Kurion has been awarded a contract to develop a robotic arm to repair reactor primary containment leaks at the Fukushima Daii-chi Nuclear Power Plant, the company announced today. The contract from IHI Corporation calls for Kurion to produce its robotic system, titled the ‘Fukushima Repair Manipulator,’ for a targeted deployment of mid-2016 within the Unit 2 Reactor, which was heavily damaged in the 2011 accident. The system will include advanced cutting, water-jet, and grouting tools while featuring an automatic control sequence to guide the tool in opening holes, clearing debris and obstacles, and plugging cracks in the reactor’s vent tubes and torus. Following the repairs to any leaks, plant workers will have the opportunity to remove the damaged fuel and debris from the reactor. Kurion had previously contracted with the IHI Corporation to provide a robotic system that enabled an inspection of the Unit 2 Reactor that identified the leaks.

 

According to Kurion President and Founder John Raymont, the new contract represents another area where Kurion is assisting in the plant cleanup. “Kurion is honored to be selected yet again to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts at the Fukushima Daii-chi Nuclear Power Plant,” Raymont said in a statement. “For the past three years, Kurion has applied our innovative technologies throughout the plant to purify hazardous water and identify repair needs. Now, the adoption of Kurion’s Fukushima Repair Manipulator marks another critical step in accelerating the ongoing cleanup of the plant.”