Commissioning

To commission a facility as sophisticated as ITER it is necessary to proceed in small and gradual steps—checking each part before moving onto the next, and bringing together more and more pieces of the puzzle until the whole facility is working as one.

Systems commissioning is the final verification that each of the components and plant systems has been designed, manufactured and installed correctly. It is also an opportunity to transfer knowledge to the operations team, test all the procedures, and get ready to start the first experiments.

The master commissioning schedule calls for systems to be brought into service in the following order: steady state electrical network (SSEN); central control system; liquid, gas and HVAC services; cooling water; cryoplant; electron cyclotron heating; vacuum pumping; fuelling; and coil power supplies.

The central control system is needed for the commissioning of other systems. A "temporary" main control room has been operational since late 2022. Its first task was to start up the cooling water systems and the cooling towers, testing each pump and valve before initiating the circulation and flow tests. Also operational are the the production and distribution networks for various gases and liquids, as well as the air conditioning to remove heat generated in each plant building. Next in line are the nitrogen and helium production facilities in the cryogenic plant and the various auxiliary vacuum pumping systems.

The specialized Tokamak systems come next—the electron cyclotron system that generates microwave energy to heat the plasma, cryogenic pumping systems able to produce ultra-high vacuum, and the power supplies needed to energize the superconducting magnets. When all of these systems have passed their tests, the construction phase of ITER is complete and the operations phase of the project can begin with integrated commissioning, which tests that all systems are working together.

Gallery

Scientific Data and Computer Centre coming on line

2025-02-03

Peter Kroul—from the IT System and Operation Section—is in the Scientific Data and Computer Centre, where ITER data will be stored, secured, processed and distributed throughout the lifetime of the machine. Data storage and management will begin in 2025 when the centre starts receiving data from various ITER plant systems.

Shift operation managers: ready for anything

2025-02-03

For one year now, 12 shift operation managers have been on duty rotation for 24/7 coverage of operational areas on the ITER site. Working from the temporary main control room (pictured) or on call, they coordinate daily activities and intervene in off-normal events when necessary.