This thesis introduces and designed a mobile lifting and transport platform, consisting of a background introduction, platform model design, and finite element analysis. This mobile lifting and transport platform is designed for use within the confined space of the DEMO reactor port to lift and move a 300-tonne biological shielding door. Key components include a high-strength 42CrMo steel frame, a hydraulic lifting system for vertical movement, linear guide rails for horizontal motion, and a ball screw mechanism for precise positioning. The platform operates by lifting the load with hydraulic cylinders and then moving it laterally using the guide rail system. The platform is specifically designed for handling heavy loads within the DEMO fusion reactor port. The narrow and limited height of the DEMO equatorial port presents challenges that traditional systems cannot adequately address.
The platform was designed and modeled, with 42CrMo selected as the primary material after careful consideration. Structural integrity, load distribution, and other factors were analyzed. Finite element analysis was conducted using ANSYS to evaluate the platform’s structural performance under a uniform load of 320 tonnes. The results show that the maximum stress and deformation values are within acceptable limits, ensuring the platform’s safety and reliability within the DEMO reactor
