For all those present, the transfer of the last ring-shaped coil to the storage facility was a moment of legitimate pride. Few industrial ventures compare to the making, in record time, of first-of-a-kind components of such size and complexity.
The fabrication of PF3—one of the two largest ring-shaped coils, measuring 24 metres in diameter—marked the high point of technical and organizational expertise that had been accumulated since manufacturing began in the Winding Facility in late March 2017. The first coil to come off the production line in 2021 (PF5) had required three and half years of work. Although 40% larger and wound with 22% more superconducting cable, PF3 was finalized in two years and 9 months—a 15-month gain in fabrication time.
Six ring-shaped poloidal field coils are situated outside of the toroidal field magnet structure to shape the plasma and contribute to its stability by ''pinching'' it away from the walls. The two bottom coils, PF6 and PF5, have already been lowered into the Tokamak assembly pit.
For all those present, whether associated with the ITER Organization, Fusion for Energy, or any of the half-dozen contracting companies whose name was inscribed on the coil's protective wrapping, it was a moment of legitimate pride. Few industrial ventures compare to the making, in record time, of first-of-a-kind components of such size and complexity.
