Design Review working groups gather in Cadarache

This week the ITER Parties' fusion experts gathered at the Château in Cadarache to take the next big step on the way towards building ITER: identifying what is still needed to finalize the baseline design of the world's biggest fusion experiment. In a four-day marathon the heads and representatives of the eight working groups together with the Team Leaders of the seven ITER Parties discussed potential revisions in the physical as well as the design requirements to meet the project's defined goals. This was necessary as since the last definition of the ITER baseline design in 2001, scientific experience and knowledge have improved substantially.

The meeting resulted in the proposal of 104 Design Change Requests (DCR) for the various components including improvements necessary for more advanced plasma performances and the required building space. These were considered and prioritized for study at the project Technical Coordination Meeting on 20 July. The aim of these studies will be to confirm the feasibility of the changes proposed and to evaluate costs, as well as to identify ways to offset any cost increases incurred.

In September, the committee will gather again to further discuss proposals before the main design details will be frozen in November.