Subscribe options

Select your newsletters:

Please enter your email address:

@

Your email address will only be used for the purpose of sending you the ITER Organization publication(s) that you have requested. ITER Organization will not transfer your email address or other personal data to any other party or use it for commercial purposes.

If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe option at the bottom of an email you've received from ITER Organization.

For more information, see our Privacy policy.

News & Media

Latest ITER Newsline

  • On site | 28 who "truly shined"

    The new ITER Star Awards recognize exemplary performance and commitment. Every year, during the annual assessment campaign, ITER staff may be recognized for exe [...]

    Read more

  • MT-28 Conference | Superconducting magnets as a catalyst

    Many passers-by paused for a moment and picked up their cell phones to capture the scene. It was indeed rare to see dancers on the square outside of the Pavillo [...]

    Read more

  • Fusion world | TCV tokamak turns 30

    The Swiss TCV tokamak (for Tokamak à Configuration Variable, or 'variable configuration' tokamak) has been exploring the physics of nuclear fusion for 30 years [...]

    Read more

  • Image of the week | Port cell with a view

    A visit to ITER would not be complete without a peek into the Tokamak pit where the machine is being progressively assembled. For several years, one of the equa [...]

    Read more

  • Visit | Chinese Minister reaffirms "full support"

    ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology (MOST) Wang Zhigang share a common academic background. They both tra [...]

    Read more

Of Interest

See archived entries

Testing plasma-facing components in St Petersburg

The first testing of plasma-facing components for ITER's outer divertor target full-scale prototype started at the Efremov Institute in St Petersburg, Russia in late October.

These crucially important and sophisticated heat-capturing elements will be in direct contact with the plasma—a first barrier that will withstand the main heat flux from plasma during operation. As the plasma temperature is to reach 100-150 million °C, and the expected heat load on the divertor surface up to 20 MW/m2, the components under test have challenging requirements to meet.

To conduct the tests in Russia, a special ITER Divertor Test Facility was assembled at the Efremov Institute as part of the Russian commitment for the ITER Project. Within the Facility, an 800 kW electron injector exposes the components to the same heat loads they will face inside the ITER vacuum vessel in the standard operational mode and allows the testing of their reliability.

A 800 kW electron injector exposes the components to the same heat loads - up to 20 MW/m2 - they will face inside the ITER vacuum vessel. (Click to view larger version...)
A 800 kW electron injector exposes the components to the same heat loads - up to 20 MW/m2 - they will face inside the ITER vacuum vessel.
The tests being carried out in Russia's northern capital are a vivid example of close international cooperation within the implementation of the ITER Project: the components were manufactured in Japan and shipped by our Japanese colleagues directly to St Petersburg for testing at the Russian facility. In compliance with the spirit of tight international collaboration, the works are being carried out in the presence of Russian and Japanese Domestic Agency specialists, as well as experts from the ITER Organization.
 
The first test results are expected in late November; several dozen test series will follow. The results will make it possible to adjust the manufacturing technology for these challenging plasma-facing components.

The works are being carried out in the presence of Russian and Japanese Domestic Agency specialists, as well as experts from the ITER Organization. (Click to view larger version...)
The works are being carried out in the presence of Russian and Japanese Domestic Agency specialists, as well as experts from the ITER Organization.


return to the latest published articles