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News & Media

Latest ITER Newsline

  • Industrial milestone | First cryopump passes all tests

    The serial production of ITER's powerful torus and cryostat cryopumps is progressing at Research Instruments, Germany, on behalf of the European Domestic Agency [...]

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  • The changing fusion landscape | ITER hosting private sector workshop

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  • Image of the Week | Advisory committee season

    The 30th Meeting of the ITER Council Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC-30) took place at ITER Headquarters from 13 to 16 May. The Science and Tech [...]

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  • ITER Design Handbook | Preserving the vital legacy of ITER

    The contributions that ITER is making to fusion physics and engineering—through decades of decisions and implementation—are delivering insights to the fusion co [...]

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Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

Cryostat Workshop

Top lid enters the stage

In this vast workshop over the past five years, the different sections of the ITER cryostat have been assembled and welded under India's responsibility. The base section, followed by the lower and upper cylinders, have successively taken shape—massive components whose dimensions give a true sense of the awesome size of the machine they will enclose. The time has now come for the last of the four sections to enter the stage.

Perfectly aligned on the workshop floor, the major elements of the cryostat top lid will soon be positioned inside the supporting frame in the background of this photograph (the central cylinder is hidden by the frame). (Click to view larger version...)
Perfectly aligned on the workshop floor, the major elements of the cryostat top lid will soon be positioned inside the supporting frame in the background of this photograph (the central cylinder is hidden by the frame).
At 665 tonnes, the cryostat top lid is the second heaviest component of the ITER machine. Its main elements—12 lid segments, one centre cylinder and one centre cover—have all been delivered and will soon be positioned inside the supporting frame.

Specialists from MAN Energy Solutions are finalizing the installation of the support frame, prior to starting on assembly and welding. (Click to view larger version...)
Specialists from MAN Energy Solutions are finalizing the installation of the support frame, prior to starting on assembly and welding.
Once the segments are assembled and adjusted, and the fit-up verified, welding operations will start, followed by the machining of the flange and the drilling of 144 holes for the bolting system. Indian contractor Larsen & Toubro (manufacturing design, fabrication and assembly) and sub-contractor MAN Energy Solutions (welding) are responsible for the work.

By year end, the fourth and last element of the cryostat will have been finalized. A major milestone in the ITER Project and the end of a magnificent human and technological adventure.

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