ITER TF and CS magnet systems manufacturing feasibility study

This paper reports the results of a four month study by a team from general Dynamics/Westinghouse-primary industrial contractor (PIC) to the U.S. ITER home team for ITER magnetics R&D-and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology´s plasma fusion center, to determine the feasibility of building the full-scale TF and CS superconducting magnet systems specified for ITER (International Tokamak Experimental Reactor). Specific objectives of this study were: develop a manufacturing plan for the construction of full-scale TF and CS ITER magnets; determine the costs of manufacturing these magnets; identify the primary factors that drive manufacturing costs, and; identify areas requiring further design and manufacturing R&D. The primary conclusion of this study is that although the full-scale ITER TF and CS magnets are considerably larger than any superconducting magnets ever built, manufacture of these magnets is feasible (given adequate development work in several areas identified by this study), both within the ITER joint central team´s (JCT´s) six year production schedule and utilizing existing materials and process technologies