Full of firsts: First product under the first F4E-ITER PA completed

The production of the first two batches of copper strand, to be used for European share of the procurement of the Cable-In-conduit conductor Unit lengths for Torodial Fields coils of the ITER magnet system, has been successfully completed.

This delivery of 15 tonnes of copper strand is unique in the sense that it stems from the first Procurement Arrangement (PA) that F4E ever signed with ITER. According to the PA, Europe will deliver 20% of the Cable-In-conduit conductor Unit lengths for Toroidal Field coils of the ITER magnet system. The copper strand is wound together with superconducting niobium-tin wire in order to produce a cable (consisting of in total approximately 1,400 strands of copper and niobium-tin wire). The cable will be inserted into a stainless steel jacket and become the Cable-In-conduit conductor – a conductor which will carry a huge electrical current (approximately 70,000 amps) and produce the magnetic field necessary for plasma confinement in the Toroidal Field coils.

The completed production of the first two batches of copper strand is also significant as it is the result of the first call for tender launched by F4E and the first contract in the framework of an ITER PA to be signed by F4E. The copper strand production contract was awarded to Luvata, a Finnish company with expertise in copper and superconducting strand manufacture. Luvata is scheduled to complete two additional batches of copper strand by the end of this year, bringing the final total of delivery of copper strand up to 62 tonnes.