16–21 Sept 2018
Giardini Naxos
Europe/Rome timezone

Examination of ITER Central Solenoid prototype joints

17 Sept 2018, 11:00
2h
Pantelleria Hall - Terrace - ATA Hotel Naxos Beach Resort (Giardini Naxos)

Pantelleria Hall - Terrace - ATA Hotel Naxos Beach Resort

Giardini Naxos

Via Recanati, 26 Giardini Naxos, Messina - Sicily (Italy)
Magnets and Power Supplies P1

Speaker

Dr Ignacio Aviles Santillana (European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN))

Description

The ITER Magnet System will be the largest and most challenging integrated superconducting magnet system ever built. For the Central Solenoid (CS), cable – in – conduit - conductors (CICCs) of nearly one kilometre length are produced, but still, it will be necessary to connect several lengths together to wind the gigantic 110 tonnes coils. The creation of these superconducting joints is one of the most delicate parts of the assembly. There are three types of ITER CS joints: sintered joints, coaxial joints and twin – box joints. US ITER, the ITER Domestic Agency of the USA produced a prototype containing all three types of joints. The goal is to test the performance of the joints in the SULTAN facility of the Swiss Plasma Center, capable of reproducing close – to – service conditions: high magnetic field (up to 11 T background field), high current (up to 100 kA) and high mass flow rate of supercritical helium for cooling. The paper describes the results of a comprehensive examination campaign aimed at understanding the relation between fabrication and performance of the CS prototype joints. The test campaign combines advanced image analysis for the assessment of the void fraction of the conductors and dimensional measurements performed at different cross- sections of the joints, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to evaluate the quality of the contact between the strands and the sleeve / sole, as well as a full assessment of the welds according to the most stringent acceptance levels of the standards in force. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ITER Organization.

Co-authors

Dr Ignacio Aviles Santillana (European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)) Dr Stefano Sgobba (European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)) Pilar Fernandez Pison (European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)) Dr Paul Libeyre (ITER Organization (IO)) Dr Sandra Castillo Rivero (European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)) Dr David Everitt (US ITER Project)

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