9 rings, 70 plates, EUR 172 million
10 Dec 2012
Two large contracts for the manufacture of ITER components were recently concluded by the European Domestic Agency (F4E).
Three pre-compression rings at the top and three at the bottom of the toroidal field magnet system will help the structures withstand the terrific electro-magnet forces during machine operation. (The manufacturing contract signed in late November includes three spares.)
On 29 November, F4E signed a contract (EUR 12 million) for the supply of nine pre-compression rings for the ITER magnet system with EADS CASA Espacio in Spain. By holding tightly to the toroidal field coils at the top and bottom, these 5-metre-diameter fibreglass composite rings (in pink, at right) will reduce the fatigue on the magnet structures caused by electro-magnetic forces—consequently prolonging their operational life from ten to over twenty years.
Large, D-shaped radial plates will house the toroidal field conductor in specially machined grooves. © SIMIC (left) and CNIM (right)
The nine pre-compression rings will be the largest composite structures ever built for operation in a cryogenic environment.
The following week, on 5 December, F4E concluded the contract (EUR 160 million) for the supply of 70 radial plates with a consortium made up of SIMIC S.p.A. (Italy) and CNIM (France).
The radial plates are large, D-shaped stainless steel structures with grooves machined on both sides. Europe is responsible for delivering 10 of ITER's 18 toroidal field coils; as part of this in-kind procurement, 70 radial plates will be necessary to hold the conductor of the toroidal field coils. Prior to the contract signature, both companies had successfully completed radial plate prototypes.