Integrating, interacting

Even though the whole Organization is buzzing, getting prepared for the third Council meeting taking place here in Cadarache this week, let me draw your attention to the department of CODAC, IT, Heating & Current Drive. We have made good progress over the last few weeks preparing further R&D contracts on diagnostics and heating systems. An example of how we attempt to save R&D money by collaborating with existing facilities is the in-situ calibration of the ITER diagnostic systems at the AMANDE facility at IRSN here in Cadarache. AMANDE delivers neutron fields between 2 keV and 20 MeV for testing the response of diagnostic instruments to neutron scattering. A preliminary study has already started.

In CODAC, our team is interacting closely with many of the Domestic Agencies to involve them in design activities for the various systems. For this purpose the team is currently setting up engineering contracts and task agreements with experts from external companies. As CODAC is financed out of the Joint Fund, it is extremely important to develop a strategy that involves the whole ITER community. We are in the midst of discussions with the Domestic Agencies to assess their interest and expertise so that they can contribute to our program through long-term Task Agreements. This would help us establishing groups of experts in the Domestic Agencies who could help us negotiate and collaborate with industry during the later procurement phase. The CODAC team has just returned from Barcelona where it participated in a meeting with suppliers organized by the European Domestic Agency.

The design of the port plugs is currently being discussed in order to optimize the interfaces between the diagnostic instruments and the launchers for the heating systems. We currently have visitors from Japan, Korea and China working with us on the integration of these interfaces.

In the Heating & Current Drive Division we are working on the procurement planning for the diagnostic neutral beam power supplies. Again we are working closely together with the responsible officers from the Indian Domestic Agency who have come here to jointly prepare the required documentation. As closer collaboration between the ITER Organization and the Domestic Agencies is wanted and needed, we very much appreciate this integrated effort at this early stage of development.