The ITER burning plasma is expected to reach 150 million °C. How are we going to confine it?
18 powerful superconducting magnets, known as Toroidal Field coils, will be powered with 68 000 A to generate a magnetic field of 11.8 Tesla (approximately 1 million times stronger the magnetic fields of the Earth!). In this “cage” we will entrap the energy of a small sun.
Europe will manufacture ten of the TF coils and Japan will produce eight plus one spare. They will be the biggest Niobium-tin (Nb3Sn) magnets ever produced. More than 600 people from 26 companies have collaborated with F4E, managing the European contribution to ITER, to produce the ten TF coils.
F4E has visited the premises of ASG Superconductors, where the core components of the TF coils are manufactured. For the first time-ever, we get to see the main fabrication steps and to meet the people behind the key operations.
Alessandro Bonito-Oliva, F4E Magnets Project Manager; Robert Harrison, F4E Technical Officer; Marc Cornelis, F4E Technical Officer, offer us a guided tour and explain how we have succeeded in manufacturing the most high-tech magnets in history!
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Click here to download the 3D ITER TF coils poster
What is the state of play in funding, research, patents and devices?
The beam source and calorimeter arrive in the Neutral Beam Test Facility.
F4E and Ansaldo Nucleare deliver machine to install heavy port plugs.
Europe’s achievements in the fusion ecosystem presented in a visual format.
F4E and Air Liquide complete commissioning of major ITER cryoplant system.
F4E and SIMIC celebrate excellence in manufacturing.