On February 29, the Sino-French consortium TAC1 team held a contract signing ceremony at the ITER site in France for the assembly of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) vacuum chamber modules. This marks another significant engineering project won by the consortium, which includes the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (referred to as the Plasma Institute) and the China National Nuclear Corporation, among others. This achievement will further accelerate and promote the progress of the ITER project.
The contract for the assembly of the vacuum chamber module of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has been signed. Image courtesy of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Vacuum Vessel Module Assembly Contract
The host of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion experiment. Image provided by the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Building upon over 30 years of independent innovation and technological development in the field of superconductivity, particularly in the areas of low-temperature superconductivity, high-temperature superconductivity, and specialized processes such as low-temperature insulation, the team from the Institute of Plasma Physics (IPP) has accumulated profound technical expertise and rich experience. The IPP team has been actively involved in all installation packages of the ITER project organized by the ITER International Organization. Confronted with multiple challenges, including significant technical difficulties and tight deadlines, the team not only completed a series of core installation tasks for the ITER project but also took the lead in crucial activities such as the installation of all superconducting joints, insulation treatments, and alignment measurements on-site. They successfully overcame major milestone challenges in the installation of components such as the D-shaped base, lower vacuum vessel, lower cryostat, correction field coils, and poloidal field coils. This victory ensured the high-quality completion of all milestone nodes in the first phase of ITER's main machine installation.
The recently signed contract for the assembly of ITER's vacuum vessel module is a crucial component of the second phase of the ITER main machine installation project. Leveraging their deep technical capabilities and engineering experience in manufacturing large-sized and complex fusion reactor double-layer vacuum vessels, the IPP team will provide solid support for the smooth implementation of the second-phase vacuum vessel module assembly project.
Since the formal signing of the first contract for the domestic procurement package of the ITER plan in October 2009, the IPP has fully utilized the strengths and spirit of its large scientific team, characterized by dedication, collaboration, initiative, and the pursuit of excellence. They have cultivated a dedicated ITER project team, comprising scientists, engineers, manufacturing specialists, and others, totaling over 600 individuals engaged in ITER-related activities. Additionally, a young and resilient team has been stationed at the ITER site in France for an extended period, undertaking various tasks such as design, magnetism, power supply, coating, vacuum technology, D-shaped base construction, diagnostics, feeding, control, tuning, and engineering installation, covering essentially all core aspects of the ITER device. Furthermore, more than 20 authoritative scientists have held key positions in international evaluation groups, expert groups, and working groups within the ITER International Organization. Over the past decade of participation in the ITER plan, the IPP has nurtured a cohort of highly competitive engineering and technical talents, as well as professionals in international project management, possessing valuable knowledge and expertise in ITER-related intellectual property.
