Tough Stuff: US ITER electronics will stand up to ITER’s extremes

The team involved in the development of radiation hardened electronics for US ITER includes (left to right): Frank Ivester, Shane Frank, Claudell Harvey, Nance Ericson and Kurt Vetter.

ITER, a machine that will imitate the sun, will also mimic the sun’s extreme environment: intense heat, strong magnetic fields and radiation.

The first of six magnet modules forming the central solenoid is packaged while the next is ready for packaging at General Atomics in Poway, California. Photo: GA

The first of six superconducting magnet modules for the ITER central solenoid left General Atomics’ Magnet Technologies Center in Poway, California for the ITER site in France.

The interior of a central solenoid module shows the extensive network of helium piping needed to keep the superconducting magnet at 4 degrees Kelvin. US ITER is managing the fabrication of magnet modules at General Atomics in Poway, CA. Photo: GA

As Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (MPEX) prepares for the start of fabrication, ORNL’s Phil Ferguson credits US ITER staff for sharing hard-earned expertise to help jump-start the design of the MPEX superconducting magnet system.

A low field side reflectometer test stand at General Atomics with antennae (left) and waveguides (right).

As the first phase of ITER tokamak assembly begins, the US ITER diagnostics team is busy preparing the systems essential for first plasma.

After several years of design analysis, prototyping and strict attention to complex structural demands, the US ITER electron cyclotron heating line team completed a final design review of transmission lines for the microwave plasma heating system. The team is now preparing for initial fabrication contracts. “Our thermal mechanical analysis at the system and component level […]

The KSTAR superconducting tokamak in Daejeon, South Korea before installation of the two shattered pellet injectors.

–Adriana Ghiozzi for US ITER First-of-a-kind experiments have begun at the KSTAR tokamak in Daejeon, South Korea, where two new shattered pellet injectors were installed in October and December. The tandem use of shattered pellet injectors installed at opposite sides of the machine is a first for the technology, which was developed and fabricated at […]

A lower key block assembly is prepared by a technician for shipping from Petersen, Inc. in Odgen, Utah to the ITER site. Photo: US ITER

Lower key blocks for the central solenoid are now being delivered to the ITER site

A 61,000 gallon drain tank, part of the US-provided tokamak cooling water system, is lifted into the tokamak complex for installation in the basement.

Three drain tanks were the first US-supplied components installed in the ITER tokamak complex this past weekend. Two more US-provided drain tanks will be installed later in the construction sequence. The drain tanks are part of the tokamak cooling water system, which will serve as the primary cooling system for the ITER machine. During operation, the […]

The electron cyclotron transmission lines feature multiple lines of aluminum waveguides (two small-scale prototypes are pictured).

https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/2650 Source: ITER Newsline

The completely insulated qualification coil, with helium inlet pipes attached on its inner surface. The qualification coil serves to validate each step in the manufacturing process. Photo: GA

https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/2605 Source: ITER Newsline

Category: US Hardware

Tough Stuff: US ITER electronics will stand up to ITER’s extremes

First-of-a kind superconducting magnet en route to ITER site

Strong bonds: MPEX magnet system benefits from US ITER expertise

US ITER team preps design of first-of-a-kind real-time plasma diagnostic

US ITER ready for high-power microwave transmission line fabrication after completing final design

KSTAR joins an exclusive club: Tandem shattered pellet injectors now in testing for disruption mitigation

Delivery Begins of Lower Support Components for the “Heart of ITER”

First US Components Installed in Tokamak Complex

Confinement Valve in Development for Electron Cyclotron Waveguides

Central solenoid qualification coil passes milestone