ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ

This model of an ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ cryopump that the vacuum team appears to be hauling out of Building 525 represents many years of development, which were recently finalized at ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. 

 

The "built to print" design of this eight-tonne component (shown here at 2:3 scale) requires no less than 250 technical drawings to enable it to be manufactured to the precise standards required for the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Tokamak.

 

Detailing the design down to the smallest bolt was essential for this high-performance component to fulfil its demanding functions on ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. The vacuum team is celebrating its completion.

Tender actions by both ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Organization and the European Domestic Agency, Fusion For Energy, have been issued for the manufacturing of the first full-size cryopumps, which will be assembled by industry and tested at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.

"Cryopumps are among the most complex of ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ components," say both Vacuum Section Head Robert Pearce and Matthias Dremel, who led the final design phase. "These pumps are unique. They contain the world's largest all-metal high vacuum valve and operate with 4.5 K (minus 268.5 °C) cryogens in the harsh environment of the heart of the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ machine."

After creating a high vacuum inside the Tokamak chamber, six torus cryopumps will have the responsibility of taking impurities and the helium ash out of the plasma, thus enabling ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ to sustain its full performance.

Two more cryopumps will be installed on the cryostat to maintain the low pressure required for the operation of the magnets.