Neutral beam test facility
Japan completes deliveries
27 Nov 2017
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K.D.
The Japanese Domestic Agency has delivered its final contribution to the ITER neutral beam test facility in Padua, Italy, where the high-energy ion source and injection system of ITER's most powerful heating system will be tested in advance of ITER operation.
At least 50 people take part in the ceremony, including: Stefania Gannini, Italian Minister of Education, Universities, and Research; Dr Ito, Vice-Minister of MEXT (the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology); Dangis Verseckas, staff of the Directorate General for Energy; Dr Kurihara, the Director-General of QST; Professor Lorenzoni, Deputy Mayor of Padua; Gyung-Su Lee, ITER Deputy Director-General and Chief Executive Officer; representatives of Consorzio RFX including Director Sonato and President Gnesotto, and representatives of industry. ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot, who could not attend, sent a message by video. Other ITER colleagues, including Head of the Heating & Current Drive Division Deirdre Boilson, attended by live conference link.
The ITER neutral beam test facility (NBTF), also called PRIMA, is a joint international effort to develop the neutral beam injector prototypes for ITER. Hosted by the Italian fusion laboratory Consorzio RFX, the facility houses two test beds—SPIDER, for the development and characterization of the ITER negative ion source; and MITICA, a full-size prototype of the 1 MV heating neutral beam injectors.
Europe, Japan and India are contributing all components according to the specifications of Procurement Arrangements signed with the ITER Organization; Italy hosts the facility and provides the buildings and a large contribution to the manpower.
Outside of PRIMA, no other facility in the world can achieve the challenging requirements for the ITER neutral beam system simultaneously—power up to 16.5 MW at 1MeV of energy, and with a pulse length up to 3600 seconds.
Europe, Japan and India are contributing all components according to the specifications of Procurement Arrangements signed with the ITER Organization; Italy hosts the facility and provides the buildings and a large contribution to the manpower.
A ceremony held on Monday 20 November celebrated the successful conclusion of Japan's component deliveries to the facility. Over two years, Japan has delivered high-voltage components for the 1 MV power supply system of MITICA, including the megavolt bushing, the megavolt transmission line and the high voltage part of the megavolt power supply.
"Today, we recognize and celebrate the final delivery of some of the complex components that make up the ITER neutral beam test facility," said ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot by video address to the 50 participants at the event. "This is a major step toward the successful implementation and development of the neutral beam system—one of ITER's key heating and current drive systems."
Attending the ceremony were representatives of the Italian and Japanese governments, the European Commission, the Japanese National Institute of Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), and industry. All lauded the benefit and synergies created when complex technological challenges are taken on by international effort.
See a photo gallery of the event below.
C'est la qualité du substrat rocheux de la plateforme ITER qui a déterminé l'emplacement exact du Complexe Tokamak, d'un poids total de 360 000 tonnes. Dans la zone du bâtiment Tokamak, la force portante du sol sera de 100 tonnes par mètre carré au minimum. Photo : F4E
Avanat de lancer les travaux de défrichage du site, en 2006, on a dressé un mât à l'endroit précis où se trouvera le cœur du futur tokamak ITER.
A ceremony is held on 20 November at the ITER neutral beam test facility in Padua, Italy, to mark the conclusion of deliveries from one of the participating parties, Japan. The official photo is taken in the High Voltage hall, with the high voltage bushing procured by Japan behind the group on the left, and the high voltage deck procured by Europe at right.
The different components procured by Japan over a two year period are compiled here, photographed as they leave Hitachi port.
On réalise un forage tous les 4 à 5 mètres et jusqu'à une profondeur de 5 mètres afin d'explorer le substrat rocheux de la fosse d'isolation sismique. Photo : F4E
Le socle de la fosse d'isolation sismique se situe à 17 m au-dessous du niveau de la plateforme. Des relevés de terrain permettent de caractériser le substrat rocheux et de vérifier la compatibilité des choix de design du Complexe Tokamak. Photo : F4E
Moins profonde que la fosse du Complexe Tokamak qu'elle borde sur le côté nord, cette zone de forme carrée est réservée aux fondations de l'Installation des « Cellules Chaudes ». Au mois de mai, on affinera le profil de cette zone par des tirs de dynamite. Photo : Altivue/Spie Batignolles
Neutral beam injection relies on beams of high-speed, high-energy atoms that penetrate deep into the plasma, initiating collisions and transferring their energy. Each injector is composed of a source of negative ions (deuterium), an electrostatic accelerator, a neutralizer, a separator of residual ions and finally a calorimeter.
On fore jusqu'à une profondeur de cinq mètres afin d'obtenir une « image » détaillée du substrat rocheux de la fosse d'isolation sismique. Photo : F4E