STEP WP6 - Design Study of Remotely Operable High Integrity Vessel Closure Plate

The purpose of this tender is to select Consultant(s) to report currently available, high integrity, hatch or port sealing technology which most closely satisfies the stated criteria and as a second part to identify, to price and to propose a programme of development work to achieve or improve the sealing solutions to meet the requirements over a period of 3 years. The scope for the study is for vacuum vessel closure plates The study is being issued at a preliminary stage of a design and one of the biggest unknown factors is the precise dimensions of the required opening. Thus, a generic approach is being taken for this study which shall be based on the technologies that are available in industry. There are two aspects to the study; a. To identify the closure plate design solutions that can meet the seal leakage requirements and can be installed and removed quickly using remote handling tools. Amongst other factors this assumes a light design. Bolting solutions are not preferred due to their expected duration. b. To identify the maximum weight of the closure plate that the offered seal and closure plate technology could support for this application including any improvements that could be made to the closure plate design.