China celebrates toroidal field dummy welding

A ceremony was held in Hefei, China on 14 August to mark the beginning of welding for the ITER toroidal field dummy conductor, with representatives from the Chinese Domestic Agency and the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) present.

The accomplishment of the first welding joint was an important milestone and a demonstration of the acceleration of toroidal field conductor construction in China. Following the successful completion of SULTAN test and clearance of quality control Authorization to Proceed Points (ATPP) in August, ITER China and ASIPP are now preparing for the assembly of the formal toroidal field dummy conductor.

According to the Procurement Arrangement signed between CN-DA and the ITER Organization, China will undertake 7.51 percent of toroidal field conductor fabrication for ITER. During Phase II, a 760-metre dummy copper conductor is required for process qualification.

In 2009, ITER China awarded the first contract for toroidal field qualification conductor fabrication to ASIPP. In parallel to the construction of new fabrication facilities, extensive R&D work and the trial fabrication for the ITER conductor were carried out at Hefei, which is now doted with a 4,000 square-metre workshop and nearly 1,000—metre assembly line.

"The most important thing is to carry out the task strictly in accordance with the contract ... on time and with guaranteed quality and quantity," proclaimed ITER China Head Luo Delong at the ceremony.