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The Project

Radiofrequency Heating Building

Room for power supplies, wave-generating gyrotrons and transmission lines. The Radio Frequency Heating Building will house equipment for ITER's electron cyclotron heating system.

Abutting one wall of the Assembly Hall is a three-storey structure that was originally designed to house the equipment required to generate the high-frequency electromagnetic waves of ITER's electron and ion cyclotron heating systems.

As a result of ITER's proposed updated baseline and research plan, plans for the building have been modified to exclusively house electron cyclotron heating systems, and a building will be added to house ion cyclotron equipment.

Both systems are radiowave-generating systems that are designed to deliver energy at frequencies that match the oscillations of particles inside the plasma—a matching called "resonance." The energy increases the velocity of the particles' chaotic motion, and at the same time their temperature.

Without the ITER heating systems to start and maintain the fusion reactions, there could be no fusion power in ITER. The scientific program will rely on radio-wave external heating systems to provide up to 87 MW of input heating power (up to 67 MW for ECRH and up to 20 MW for ICRH). A third external heating system, neutral beam injection, will provide another 33 MW of input heating power. 

In electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH), electrons are targeted at a resonant frequency of 170 GHz. In ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH), energy is transferred to the ions in the plasma by a high-intensity beam of electromagnetic radiation with a frequency chosen between 40 to 55 MHz. Both heating systems are based on the same principle—the conversion of electrical power into electromagnetic radiation—however, the technology they rely upon is considerably different.

The ECRH system transmits heat to the plasma through microwaves, much in the same way a microwave oven heats food. The ICRH source is more aptly compared to a powerful radio transmitter of the kind that is still used to broadcast information from one end of the world to the other—with the difference that the ITER system will require a number of amplifiers to reach a much higher level of power.

The Radiofrequency Building will house the power supplies and wave generators (gyrotrons) for electron cyclotron resonance heating. Waves generated by the gyrotrons will travel along robust transmission lines through the Assembly Building and into the Tokamak Building, where ECRH launchers will deliver their energy deep into the plasma. 

Plans are underway for a modified building and transmission-line route for ion cyclotron resonance heating.

Radio Frequency Heating Building facts:
  • Construction: 2016-2022
  • Building dimensions: height 25 m, length (east/west) 50 m, width (north/south) 43 m
  • Number of storeys: 3
  • Electron cyclotron (ECRH) equipment housed: power supplies, wave-generating gyrotrons, and transmission lines
  • Update 2024: A separate building will be constructed to house ion cyclotron (ICRH) power supplies, radiofrequency transmitters, and transmission lines

Photo Gallery

A power supply for every gyrotron
2022-11-09 - Each body high-voltage power supply (yellow cabinet on the left side of the image) is tasked with feeding one gyrotron with the body voltage needed to reach nominal operation and optimal efficiency.
A makeshift desk
2022-11-09 - Inside the Radiofrequency Building, a lone worker works at his makeshift desk.
Equipment installation underway
2022-11-09 - Equipment installation is underway for the electron cyclotron resonance heating system (ECRH)—the first heating of three external heating systems that will be required at ITER. Follow all plant installation news on this Assembly page: /construction/systemsplantassembly
Power supplies and transformers
2022-11-09 - One of the two sets of high-voltage power supplies for the electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system is already installed on the second floor of the Radio Frequency Building. The red cylinders are ~6MW cast-resin multi-secondary transformers that feed the power modules to the left (yellow).
1 power supply for every gyrotron
2022-11-09 - Here is one of the high voltage power supplies that will feed power to the gyrotrons. Twenty-four are needed in all (for 24 gyrotrons).
Three floors of radiofrequency equipment
2022-11-04 - The three-floor Radio Frequency Building abuts the Assembly Hall. Transmission lines will run approximately 100 metres from the top floor of the Radio Frequency Building, through the Assembly Hall, and into the Tokamak Building.
Switchgears next
2022-07-05 - In July, operators install switchgears in the ITER Radiofrequency Building. © F4E
Connecting the units
2022-05-07 - The connection of the power converter modules for the charging procedure is carried out during the installation of the two first power supply sets in the ITER Radiofrequency Building. © F4E
Inspections on site
2022-04-10 - In April 2022, the first two main high voltage power supplies for the ITER gyrotrons are inspected by Fusion for Energy and APAVE in the ITER Radiofrequency Building. © F4E
Shine
2021-10-15 - The Radiofrequency Building, with the pointed roof, will be turned over by the European Domestic Agency to the ITER Organzation in January 2022.
Radiofrequency Heating Building, on right
2021-10-07 - Two storeys for power supplies, one for wave-generating devices—the Radio Frequency Heating Building (on the right) is the radio powerhouse on site, housing all wave-generating equipment for the electron and ion cyclotron heating systems.
Platform north
2021-08-16 - Along the broad face of the Assembly Hall/Tokamak Building, two structures are connected—the Radiofrequency Heating Building on the left, and the Tritium Building (still under construction) on the right. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
A small annex
2021-06-15 - A small annex is going up near the Radiofrequency Heating Building to host high voltage dummy loads for test purposes. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Equipment installation 2022-2028
2021-03-10 - The European Domestic Agency is planning to handover the Radiofrequency Heating Building to the ITER Organization in January 2022, after the final finishing activities (interior partitions, piping, electrical) are completed. The first power supplies will be installed in 2022.
Finding your way on site
2020-06-08 - To identify the buildings and technical areas of the ITER site, please see this article: /newsline/-/3451. The Radiofrequency Heating Building is #5.)
From the north
2020-02-25 - The ITER site is photographed by drone in late February 2020. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Ground floor
2020-01-29 - The structure of the three-floor Radio Frequency Building is in place, and equipment will begin arriving this summer. The ground floor (pictured) will house the high voltage power supplies. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Major work completed
2018-10-03 - The structure is complete; some finishing work remains on the exterior cladding. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Platform delivery
2017-12-19 - Two crane girders are delivered to the Radio Frequency Heating Building.
We have arrival
2017-12-19 - The first beam is detached from the crane and moved inside the building to make room for the delivery of the second.
Up
2017-12-19 - The beams are lifted to the third floor of the building, where the wave generators will be housed.
Crane installed in Radio Frequency Building
2017-12-19 - This girder is one of two that will be lifted to level 3 of the Radio Frequency Building and installed with a trolley to be used in the installation of radio frequency and microwave heating components.
Overview
2017-12-04 - Looking west over the ITER construction site, with a component storage area front left, and buildings from left to right: the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility (red trim), the Cleaning Facility, the cryoplant, the Assembly Hall, the Radio Frequency Heating Building, and the Site Services Building (long and low). Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Latest
2017-11-07 - Work is underway on the interior partitions and floors.
Waves generated here
2017-09-30 - Microwaves and radiofrequency waves generated in this building by the electron cyclotron and the ion cyclotron heating systems will travel along waveguides to the tokamak. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Through the windows
2017-07-12 - Looking out from the top floor of the Radiofrequency Heating Building, towards the 800-desk ITER Headquarters.
On the inside
2017-07-12 - The construction of the Radio Frequency Building is nearing completion, with small regions of the second and third floor to be poured and removable internal hatches to be installed. The final task for the structural part of the building will consist in the installation of two overhead cranes.
A postcard from ITER
2017-07-03 - A guide to ITER construction ...
Activity is heating up
2017-06-14 - Workers install multiple layers of cladding to the metal structure of the Radio Frequency Heating Building.
Buildings mushrooming
2017-06-08 - This June photo documents how far the ITER cryoplant (at right, fully clad) and the Radio Frequency Building (at left, partially clad) have come.
Radio Frequency Building: starting to fit in
2017-04-10 - As the first layer of cladding is filled in, the RF Building is beginning to look at home with its neighbours (from left to right the Cleaning Facility, the Assembly Hall and the Site Services Building). Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Peeking inside
2017-03-22 - Close up to the three-storey Radio Frequency Building on the northern side of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Reserved for gyrotrons and high power grid tube amplifiers
2017-02-28 - The wave generators for the electron cyclotron and ion cyclotron systems will be housed on the top floor of the Radio Frequency Building. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Creating floors and inner partitions
2017-02-28 - The three-storey Radio Frequency Building is going up against the northern face of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Firewall planned
2017-01-25 - A firewall will be installed between the Radio Frequency Building and its large neighbour, the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
From a nearby roof
2017-01-25 - This photo was taken from the roof of the Site Services Building, located just a few metres away. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Work remaining
2017-01-25 - In addition to the roof and cladding, two concrete floor slabs remain to be realized (to create the three levels of the building). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE Il reste à réaliser le toit, le bardage, et le radier en béton des deux étages supérieurs. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Good progress on the RF heating building
2017-01-25 - A view of the Radio Frequency Building, in late January. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Dedicated to external heating sources
2017-01-12 - Powerful radio frequency waves will travel along waveguides through the Assembly Building in order to reach the tokamak. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Looking west
2017-01-12 - From left to right: the Cleaning Facility, the Assembly Hall, the Radio Frequency Building; the Site Services Building. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Full of power supplies and generators
2016-12-19 - Originally planned for installation in the Assembly Hall, radio wave equipment for the electron and ion resonance heating systems will now have a building of its own: the Radio Frequency Building that is going up now against the north side of the Assembly Hall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
An important neighbor
2016-12-19 - The Radio Frequency Building, now nearly framed out, will be 50 metres long, 43 metres wide and 25 metres tall. © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
Three floors planned
2016-12-19 - The first two floors of the building will be occupied by power supplies (a total input of 100 MW). The top floor will host the wave generators (gyrotrons and tetrodes). © Les Nouveaux Médias/SNC ENGAGE
External heating to be housed here
2016-10-05 - On the north face of the Assembly Hall, a portion of wall will be shared with the Radiofrequency Heating Building. Photo: ITER Organization/EJF Riche
Foundations underway
2016-07-19 - Work is underway on the foundations of the Radiofrequency Heating Building.
Special opening
2016-07-19 - On one side of the Assembly Hall, an opening has been reserved for the Radiofrequency (RF) Heating Building. Powerful devices will be housed here for the electron and ion cyclotron resonance heating systems.
Activity all over the platform
2016-06-24 - Adjacent to the Site Services Building (completed, in background) work is underway on the foundations of the Radio Frequency Heating Building.
Groundwork begins for the Radio Frequency Heating building
2016-02-24 - The Radio Frequency (RF) Heating Building will share a wall will the Assembly Hall. Work is underway now on the foundations. Photo: ENGAGE

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