Spare coil arriving from Japan
This milestone marks the end of an important industrial effort in Japan that began in 2005 when QST launched R&D for toroidal field coil manufacturing, and that gained steam when a Procurement Arrangement was signed with the ITER Organization in 2008 for the supply of 9 complete toroidal field coils (an assembly of winding packs and coil structures) and all 19 toroidal field coil structures.
Working in collaboration, QST and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries developed high-precision technology for winding the niobium-tin conductors that form the heart of the superconducting winding pack, as well as durable structural materials for the coil cases. To arrive at manufacturing methods that would counter deformations caused by welding, parameter tests were conducted, and the welds verified using both miniature and full-scale specimens. Ultimately, through advanced welding procedures and machining techniques, Mitsubishi was able to meet the stringent requirements demanded for ITER.
QST collaborated with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation for the full scope of the Procurement Arrangement. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries manufactured the inboard coil structures for all 19 coil cases and performed the final assembly (coil insertion and case closing) for 5 toroidal field coils, including the first coil to be completed for the ITER Project (January 2020) and the final, spare coil (TF19) that was completed last month.
The coil is expected to reach France in late September and the ITER site in October.
See the Mitsubishi press release in English here.