The $\hbox {Nb}_{3}\hbox {Sn}$ Option for the ITER PF6 Coil

Recent studies have shown that the presently considered conductor for the poloidal field coil 6 (PF6) of the ITER machine is being designed at the limit of what the considered NbTi superconductor can deliver. Furthermore tests have shown that the performance of conductor prototypes remained under the specified 1.5 K temperature margin. As a result of these issues, ITER is considering a PF6 coil design using Nb₃Sn superconductor. We have investigated a PF6 coil design based on Nb₃Sn superconductor, which at the same time delivers the required temperature margin as well as the higher performance capability at a similar cost as the reference NbTi design. In addition the design analysis presented here discusses performance parameters such as hot spot temperature and quench propagation. Finally we also present possible coil design and manufacturing procedures.