Welding Challenges in the Frame of European Contribution to ITER Magnets

Abstract

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is an international project aimed to build a fusion reactor using a plasma magnetic confinement (Tokamak) in Cadarache, France, which will demonstrate that such a machine can produce at least 10 times more energy than the one spent to sustain the fusion reaction. The project involves 7 partners: China, European Union (EU), India, Japan (JA), South Korea, Russian Federation and United States of America, all of whom will provide “in-kind” contributions to the central ITER Organization (IO) in the form of components required to build the machine. Each of the seven partners is represented by a Domestic Agency (DA) in order to comply with their in-kind contributions.

The European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy or 'Fusion for Energy' (F4E) is a type of European organization known as a Joint Undertaking created under the Euratom Treaty by a decision of the Council of the European Union and it is the ITER European DA .

F4E has three main objectives: a) Providing European contributions to the ITER international fusion energy research project being built in Cadarache, France; b) Providing European contributions to a number of joint projects with Japan that aim to accelerate the development of fusion - the "Broader Approach"; c) Coordinating a program of activities to prepare for the first demonstration fusion reactors that can generate electricity.

ITER superconducting magnet system, working at 4.5K, consists of 18 Toroidal Field (TF) coils, 6 Central Solenoid (CS) modules, 6 Poloidal Field (PF) coils and 18 Correction Coils (CC). F4E is responsible for the procurement of about 25% of the magnet system.

In this paper we are reporting on the main challenges to be faced during the manufacturing processes in terms of weld and their inspection.