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Intellectual property

ITER Members share inventions and solutions

2 Oct 2017 - Krista Dulon
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Under the terms of the ITER Agreement, industrial knowhow and processes, technological solutions, and inventions arising from the execution of ITER contracts must be tracked and made available to all signatories.

Whether working to design and test prototypes, develop advanced control systems, resolve open physics questions, or manufacture technically challenging components and systems, individuals and teams working within the framework of ITER-related contracts are bringing creative and innovative solutions into play.

Hyun-Kook Shin from ITER Korea's power supply team and a co-worker from the Korean firm Dawonsys have patented a tool that facilitates the assembly of AC/DC power convertor stacks. Where formerly the attachment of the converter's semiconductor elements (thyristors) to the electrical busbars required three people to hold the components in place and apply the necessary pressure, just one person can do the job with his new stack mount jig. Considering the large number of stacks per convertor, and the dozens of converters to be supplied to ITER by Korea, the invention represents a significant reduction in both manpower and time spent.
Diagnostic researcher Mun-Seong Cheon is part of a Korean Domestic Agency team designing a neutron activation diagnostic to measure fusion power. The neutron activation system brings capsules containing small amounts of metal close to the plasma along a specially designed pneumatic transfer system. After a few seconds spent in the company of fusion neutrons the materials become activated. By transferring the capsules back to a counting station, this activation can be measured in a way that provides a very accurate picture of fusion power. Mun-Seong devised a technique allowing the pneumatic transfer system to operate efficiently in the harsh environment of ITER. He now holds two patents—one for the high-pneumatic conveying system, and a second for a specimen-loading device.
Seoul National University researcher Jeong-Jeung Dang has been collaborating with the Korean Domestic Agency team on the design of the neutron activation system. Noting that the accuracy and the stability of the diagnostic depended on keeping track of the capsule transport apparatus at all times, he devised a highly precise tracking method based on sound waves. His invention (now patented) dispenses with the need for expensive or complex equipment and can be used in normal or accidental situations.
Jae-Hak Suh of ITER Korea's power supply team has received a patent for a power converter design that makes it easy to control the current balance between the AC busbar, the DC busbar, and the switching devices and also prevents temperature increases due to induction. In tests carried out by the Korean Domestic Agency and supplier Dawonsys it also demonstrated the advantages of improved structural resistance, facilitated cooling and a reduced number of parts. Because his design has never before been realized by industry, he also devised a proposed method for production, maintenance and reparability.
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