15th D-shaped coil delivered
Fifteen out of ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ's 19 D-shaped toroidal field coils have been delivered.
Toroidal field coils are among the largest and heaviest components of the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ machine. Weighing approximately 330 tonnes each and measuring 9 x 17 metres, they stand in a circle around the steel vacuum vessel and generate a powerful magnetic field (11.8 Tesla) whose primary function is to confine the plasma.
Of the 18 toroidal field coils required by the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ machine (plus one spare), 10 are procured by Europe and 9 by Japan.
The first European coil (TF9) was delivered to the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ site on 17 April 2020, followed a week later by TF12 from Japan.
Last week, in the wee hours of Friday 13 January, Japan delivered its seventh toroidal field coil (TF15, pictured here). After Europe delivers TF1 later this week, a total of 16 toroidal field coils will have been received on the ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ site—leaving only three more to be delivered.