Design and Control of a Target Plate Fastener Assembly and Disassembly Actuator for Divertor Maintenance in Fusion Reactors

2026-99-0182

To be published on 07/31/2026

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Abstract
Content
With the development of controlled nuclear fusion technology, the tokamak device, as the most promising magnetic confinement fusion reactor for advanced engineering applications, requires remote maintenance of its internal components, which has become a key factor affecting both operational efficiency and safety. As a critical component directly exposed to high-temperature plasma, the divertor target plate needs to be periodically replaced and carefully maintained to ensure stable and reliable reactor operation. However, this region is subject to extreme conditions, including high temperature, high vacuum, and intense radiation, making conventional manual maintenance infeasible. This necessitates the development of intelligent and automated teleoperation systems. To address the automated assembly and disassembly requirements of divertor target plates, this study designs an integrated target plate actuator comprising key functional units: a positioning module, a screwing module, a quick-change module, and a passive compliance structure. The actuator achieves rapid and precise alignment with target plate holes, accommodates bolts of different specifications, and exhibits excellent impact resistance. Furthermore, stiffness and mechanical analyses, supported by finite element simulations, verify the actuator’s safety and reliability under high loads and impact forces. To further enhance operational performance, a segmented disassembly and assembly control strategy based on reinforcement learning is proposed, enabling the actuator to adaptively handle torque variations and ensure precise and stable bolt operations. The results demonstrate that the proposed actuator and control strategy significantly improve the accuracy, stability, and efficiency of target plate operations under complex working conditions, providing a reliable solution for automated divertor maintenance in tokamak devices.
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Citation
Zang, X., Yu, X., and Cao, Z., "Design and Control of a Target Plate Fastener Assembly and Disassembly Actuator for Divertor Maintenance in Fusion Reactors," The 10th International Conference on Mechanical Manufacturing Technology and Material Engineering (MMTME 2025), Shenyang, China, September 19, 2025, .
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
To be published on Jul 31, 2026
Product Code
2026-99-0182
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English