General Atomics (GA) has completed fabrication of the seventh and final module for the ITER Central Solenoid (CS) and is preparing it for shipment from its Magnet Technologies Center in Poway, California. This module, a spare for the six-module stack, marks the conclusion of a decade-long manufacturing effort by GA for the U.S. ITER project, managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Central Solenoid is a core component of the ITER tokamak, functioning as a massive transformer primary to induce a powerful current within the plasma, which is essential for heating and confinement. The final module will now be transported to Houston before its sea voyage to Marseille and final overland transit to the ITER site in southern France. Source: General Atomics / DIII-D
Once fully assembled, the Central Solenoid will stand 18 meters tall, measure 4.25 meters in diameter, and weigh 1,000 tons, making it the world's largest pulsed superconducting magnet. It is designed to achieve a peak magnetic field strength of 13 Tesla. Its primary function is to drive and shape the plasma by inducing a current of up to 15 million amperes. The magnet system will store 5.5 gigajoules of energy, which will be discharged in controlled pulses to initiate and sustain the plasma burn. According to Kathy McCarthy, director of the U.S. ITER project, the Central Solenoid is the single largest U.S. contribution to the international fusion experiment. Source: General Atomics / DIII-D
Its primary function is to drive and shape the plasma by inducing a current of up to 15 million amperes.
The completion of the CS modules represents a significant engineering achievement in superconducting magnet technology. Each module required complex fabrication processes, including winding niobium-tin superconducting cables, heat treatment, and vacuum pressure impregnation. The successful production of all seven units validates the manufacturing techniques required for large-scale, high-field magnets, a technology critical not only for ITER but also for many commercial fusion reactor designs currently under development in the private sector. This milestone for the U.S. ITER hardware contribution follows years of close collaboration between GA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which oversees the U.S. portion of the project. Source: General Atomics / DIII-D
The ITER project is a global collaboration involving 35 nations, aimed at demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy. The Central Solenoid is one of several major hardware systems being contributed by member states. Its delivery and eventual integration into the tokamak assembly is a critical path item for the project's timeline. With all modules now complete, the focus shifts to the complex process of stacking and commissioning the magnet at the Cadarache facility. The successful operation of the CS will be a key determinant in ITER's ability to achieve its plasma performance goals, including a projected Q_plasma of 10. Source: General Atomics / DIII-D