Special freight elevator for decommissioning at the Grohnde Nuclear Power Plant

Customer

PreussenElektra GmbH, headquartered in Hanover, is a subsidiary of the E.ON Group and is responsible for the operation, decommissioning, and dismantling of several nuclear power plants in Germany. As part of Germany’s nuclear phase-out, the company is coordinating the safe dismantling of these facilities.

Project Description

As part of the decommissioning of the Grohnde Nuclear Power Plant, an additional freight elevator was installed in the controlled area. The goal is to enable the safe and efficient transport of dismantled components in transport containers for radiation testing during the dismantling work within the facility.

The existing elevators, which date back to when the power plant was built, are only partially suitable for the requirements of the decommissioning process. For this reason, an additional material-handling solution was implemented that is specifically tailored to the logistical requirements of the decommissioning work.

The elevator allows for the transport of Euro-sized shipping containers, some of which are stacked on top of one another during transport.

Work in the Nuclear Control Area

In order to carry out work in a nuclear environment, SCHÖNAU Förderanlagen und Aufzüge GmbH first had to obtain the necessary qualifications. The installation was performed on the basis of a license issued pursuant to Section 25 of the Radiation Protection Act (StrlSchG) for activities in third-party facilities or installations.

All components of the elevator were brought into the reactor building in manageable individual parts, then distributed to the various levels and assembled on site. The assembly was carried out in close coordination with the operator and in strict compliance with the applicable safety, health, and radiation protection regulations in the controlled area.

Thanks to careful planning and close collaboration with the teams in charge, the installation went off without a hitch. Throughout the entire construction phase, the project was supervised by the power plant’s safety and radiation protection staff.

Technical Specifications of the Elevator

Cabin dimensions (WxLxH): 1.2 × 1.2 × 2.0 m
Load capacity: 2,500 kg
Through-feed design for flexible loading and unloading
Delivery head: 10.15 m
3 stops
Speed: 0.15 m/s
Lifting mechanism: Inverter-controlled chain hoist with catch-up control
Single-leaf, manually operated swing doors with a viewing window
Freestanding shaft scaffold made of steel sections
Trim with galvanized steel sheets
Only the shaftpit 150 mm manhole depth

Conclusion

With this second successfully completed special project at a nuclear power plant, SCHÖNAU Förderanlagen und Aufzüge GmbH has once again demonstrated its expertise in technically sophisticated conveyor solutions under special conditions.

The installed freight elevator meets the high standards for safety, functionality, and reliability required in a nuclear environment and supports the efficient decommissioning of the Grohnde Nuclear Power Plant.

Another elevator with a significantly greater lifting height is already in the planning stage. Additional inquiries are being processed…