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

  • Image of the week | First cryopump expected in the coming months

    The cryopumps that will create and maintain extremely demanding vacuum conditions inside the ITER machine are marvels of technology that have been in developmen [...]

    Read more

  • ITER Baseline | STAC committee reviews new plans for construction and operation

    Last week, the ITER Council Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) met at ITER Headquarters to review the new plans for construction and operation pro [...]

    Read more

  • IAEA General Conference | Fusion energy strongly advocated

    Last week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held its annual General Conference, with delegates representing more than 130 countries and many interna [...]

    Read more

  • 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

Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

Component repair

Sector module extraction imminent

The paperwork is done. Every tool and system has been checked, both visually and with the proper instruments. A "functional briefing" has reminded everyone involved of how the operation will proceed, step by step, and clarified the chain of command. On Tuesday this week, the delicate and complex "extraction" of vacuum vessel sector module #6 from the assembly pit will begin.

The same team responsible for the lift and installation of the 1,350-tonne sector module in May 2022 will be on deck in the coming days. ''We have the best people on the ground,'' says Daniel Coelho the ITER assembly engineer who will coordinate the operation. (Click to view larger version...)
The same team responsible for the lift and installation of the 1,350-tonne sector module in May 2022 will be on deck in the coming days. ''We have the best people on the ground,'' says Daniel Coelho the ITER assembly engineer who will coordinate the operation.
The same team responsible for the lift and installation of the 1,350-tonne sector module in May 2022 will be on deck this week—in all, close to 50 people working for the ITER Organization and contracting companies. Working in close coordination, they will lift the sector module out of the assembly pit and transfer it to one of the twin sector sub-assembly tools (SSAT-2), where it will be disassembled so that some of its elements (the vacuum vessel sector itself and thermal shield panels) can be readied for repair.

Every tool and system has been checked, both visually and with the proper instruments. (Click to view larger version...)
Every tool and system has been checked, both visually and with the proper instruments.
"Extracting" might be the semantic opposite of "inserting," but in the context of this huge component the extraction will not be a perfect reverse operation. Procedures and tools have been adapted to deal with a situation that was not initially anticipated, but that is now planned through a carefully constructed scenario.

Late on Monday afternoon, as the last details were being worked out, the team members were both focused and confident. "We have the best people on the ground," confided Daniel Coelho, the ITER assembly engineer who will coordinate the operation.

return to the latest published articles