Speaker
Robert Bertizzolo
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center))
Description
The ITER Electron Cyclotron Heating Upper Launcher (ECHUL) will be used to drive current locally inside magnetic islands located at the q=2 (or smaller) rational surfaces in order to stabilize neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs). Each antenna consists of eight beam lines that are designed for the transmission of up to 1.5 MW of mm-wave power at 170 GHz. The First Confinement System (FCS) is formed by the ex-vessel mm-wave waveguide components, for which SIC-1 classification requirements apply.
Each transmission line consists in a Z shaped set of straight corrugated aluminum alloy waveguides connected by miter bends with a nominal inner diameter of 50 mm. The FCS system also encompasses intrinsic components such as: closure plate, mm-waveguide taper, isolation valve, diamond window and an EU-US interface waveguide.
All FCS components are connected via a dedicated flange coupling, with a bolted connection, comprised of two concentric metallic seals in order to satisfy the Safety and Vacuum quality requirements. The coupling shall be capable of resisting the applied external loads and displacements, including thermal cycles due to ohmic losses in the transmission line, and also adhere to the matting of different materials (EN AW-6061, CuCrZr, SS 316LN) while maintaining ultra-high vacuum tightness.
The present study uses a dedicated experimental apparatus for the characterization of the mechanical and vacuum properties of a single metallic seal under compression, with applied heat flux. In order to ensure reproducibility of the components mechanical characteristics, randomly chosen metallic seals of each diameter will be tested from two independent manufactures’ (A and B).
This work was supported in part by the Swiss National Science Foundation. This work was carried out within the framework of the ECHUL consortium. The experimental apparatus and metallic seals were financed via the F4E-OPE-528 contract and graciously made available to be used in this study.
Co-authors
Avelino Mas Sanchez
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Bassem Sudki
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Jean-Daniel Landis
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Phillip Santos Silva
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Rene Chavan
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Robert Bertizzolo
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
Timothy Goodman
(EPFL-SPC (Swiss Plasma Center), Lausanne, Switzerland)
