Andrea Bertolone (Criotec), Lluís Mora (F4E) and Nicolò Falcone (Criotec) next to a sample of the cryolines. ©Criotec
ITER, the world’s largest fusion reactor, will operate in an ultra-high vacuum. To prevent any contamination, a set of European cryopumps will suck gas particles from inside the device. They will work in turns before and during plasma shots, ensuring a pristine environment, at pressures about one million times lower than Earth’s atmospheric pressure
The key to the cryopumps’ power is cold. Their internal panels will be cooled down to 4 K (-269 °C, close to absolute zero) to trap particles and then warmed up again to evacuate them. To regulate this process, Europe is also providing the Front-End Cryopump Distribution System (FECDS). Through it, operators will be able to feed precise doses of helium at the right temperature to the cryopumps.
The FECDS features a range of technologies: eight Torus and Cryostat Cold Valve Boxes, three Neutral Beam Cold Valve Boxes, a Warm Regeneration Box, a network of cryolines, plus the control system to orchestrate the flow. In 2017, Fusion for Energy (F4E) signed the Procurement Arrangement to design and manufacture it. After nine years and nine contracts with European industry, the full system is now at the ITER site.
The final truckload arrived this month, delivering the last cryolines for the Neutral Beam cryopumps. The shipment came from the workshop of Criotec, an Italian SME specialised in cryogenics and high vacuum. The company partnered with F4E in 2022 to fabricate and test the equipment.
The cryolines are no ordinary pipes. They are designed to channel extremely cold fluids and handle wide temperature fluctuations, while remaining vacuum-tight. Their shape adapts to the busy spaces around the tokamak. In fact, some of the lines, known as cryojumpers, are flexible and use detachable connections that can be manipulated remotely through robots.
F4E and Criotec worked together to turn a complex design into the best practical solutions: “We managed to navigate the stringent requirements and optimise the cryolines’ integration and maintenance in ITER’s Neutral Beam cell,” explains Lluís Mora, F4E Project Manager. “The delivery closes an intense engineering journey. It’s the hard-earned reward to the commitment of our teams,” he adds.
“Our company has decade-long expertise in cryolines, and this contract stimulated us to deepen it even further. It challenged us to meet demanding requirements, develop bespoke solutions and reinforce our supply chain. The support from F4E and the dedication of our engineering and production teams turned each obstacle into an opportunity to grow,” celebrates Marco Roveta, CEO of Criotec.
The cryolines mark the final chapter of a larger story. F4E and its supply chain have delivered on Europe’s commitments for the FECDS. “This is a highly complex system, sitting at the intersection of cryoplant, vacuum and fuel cycle systems and operating in a very demanding environment. By manufacturing and delivering a broad range of equipment, F4E and European industry have developed unique expertise in key ITER technologies. Our suppliers have gained valuable skills and capabilities to keep contributing to fusion,” celebrates Josep Benet, F4E Programme Manager.
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