01 Jul See the reactor plug being extracted

In May 2014, Danish Decommissioning carried out a major operation, successfully lifting a highly radioactive metal plug from Denmark's largest research reactor.

TThe metal plug was lifted directly into a shield, which was then sealed at the top and bottom. Finally, both the plug and the shield were lowered to the basement level of the reactor hall.

The challenge was to move a total of 40 tons of metal plug and shielding out of the hall. Space was limited, and the large, heavy cylinder had to be maneuvered past support pillars and around sharp corners. For this purpose, the Dutch heavy lifting company Mammoet had brought a transport vehicle called Self-Propelled Modular Transportation (SPMT).

The SPMT features 16 wheels and eight axles, all capable of independent rotation. Being diesel-powered, it was necessary to connect long hoses to the vehicle to vent the exhaust outside the building.

The reactor plug with shielding was lowered directly onto the SPMT's platform, and Danish Decommissioning technicians unbolted the lifting brackets. The red-clad Mammoet personnel maneuvered the vehicle back and forth, and after a complex multi-point turn, successfully extricated it from the reactor hall.

The entire operation was monitored by Danish Decommissioning's health physicists, who specialize in radiation protection.