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News & Media

Latest ITER Newsline

  • Tokamaks | Different approaches around the world

    Look east, look west ... tokamak projects are underway in different parts of the world. All of them are benefiting from and complementing the pioneering work al [...]

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  • Construction site | A guide to work underway

    Just like the ITER worksite, drone photography is also making progress. This view of the ITER platform is the sharpest and most detailed of all those we have pu [...]

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  • Vacuum vessel repair | A portfolio

    Whether standing vertically in the Assembly Hall or lying horizontally in the former Cryostat Workshop now assigned to component repair operations, the non-conf [...]

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  • European Physical Society | ITER presents its new plans

    The new ITER baseline and its associated research plan were presented last week at the 50th annual conference of the European Physical Society Plasma Physics Di [...]

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  • Image of the week | The platform's quasi-final appearance

    Since preparation work began in 2007 on the stretch of land that was to host the 42-hectare ITER platform, regular photographic surveys have been organized to d [...]

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Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

Image of the week

Like grasping a bowl of cereal

Contrary to the vast majority of ITER machine components, the modules that form the central solenoid cannot be lifted by way of hooks and attachments. The 110-tonne cylindrical components provide no space for a robust structure for the bolting or welding of lift devices; instead, a central solenoid module needs to be handled like one would grasp a giant bowl of cereal, by exerting pressure from the outside.

In addition to the nine powerful wedge pads exerting radial pressure on the module, redundent lifting slings and support blocks are installed ensure to ensure operation security. (Click to view larger version...)
In addition to the nine powerful wedge pads exerting radial pressure on the module, redundent lifting slings and support blocks are installed ensure to ensure operation security.
A bowl of cereal can be grasped and moved with two hands. A central solenoid module requires nine powerful wedge pads located at the bottom of a lifting fixture, each one exerting a radial force of 220 kN (equivalent to 22 tf (tonne-force)) on nine friction pads distributed around the cylinder.

Designed and manufactured by US ITER, who procures the central solenoid, the system has once again proved its efficiency. On Thursday 11 April, the third module was successfully lifted and positioned with a slight radial offset on top of the existing two-module stack. The 325-millimetre offset provides room for equipment and connection work to be completed before the module gets positioned in its final location, aligned on the central solenoid axis.

Almost there. In a few moments, the third module will be positioned on top of the existing two-module stack, with a slight radial offset to provide room for equipment and connection work. (Click to view larger version...)
Almost there. In a few moments, the third module will be positioned on top of the existing two-module stack, with a slight radial offset to provide room for equipment and connection work.



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