ITER's vacuum distribution system signed off
7 Apr 2011
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Sabina Griffith
The "veins of the tokamak"—this is how some people refer to the 15-kilometre-long network of stainless steel lines that form ITER's impressive vacuum distribution system.
This week, the Procurement Arrangement for ITER's vacuum auxiliary systems was signed by the ITER Organization and will be countersigned by the US Domestic Agency within the next days. "This is the first Procurement Arrangement for the Vacuum Section," said Robert Pearce, Section Leader, "and we are very pleased to have accomplished the signature on schedule. This achievement comes as a result of hard work and the excellent collaboration between ITER Organization and US vacuum teams." The vacuum auxiliary systems are part of the early delivery items for the ITER Tokamak.
A 15-kilometre-long network of stainless steel vacuum lines will be responsible in ITER for the transport of exhaust from the vacuum vessel, cryostat and other systems to the Tritium Plant for cleaning and reprocessing. This is one of the largest distribution systems of the ITER Tokamak, and one of the first to be installed during assembly. Its installation is scheduled to start at the end of 2013 as soon as the buildings are available.
Preparation of PA 53 has been a team effort under the leadership Deputy Director-General Yong-Hwan Kim and Section Leader Robert Pearce (3rd and 2nd from left). Key players were Steve Bryan (left), responsible for the vacuum lines and Liam Worth (right) responsible for the assembly leak detection equipment. Before the signature, the team went through a last check with Director-General Osamu Motojima (2nd from right).
The components covered under this Procurement Arrangement to be procured by the US Domestic Agency are pipe runs, pipe run supports, and vacuum leak testing equipment. Assembly leak detection equipment will be required for the testing upon arrival and during assembly all of the main tokamak systems, including the vacuum vessel, cryostat, magnets, diagnostics, cryolines, thermal shield, feeders, heating systems, blankets, and divertor.
For those who keep record, this was Procurement Arrangement number 53.
Click here for more information on the vacuum distribution lines.
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