Tokamak Inspection System – ITER
Design and development of a laser system for the inspection and metrology of the ITER fusion chamber.
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) needed to develop and build an In-Vessel Viewing System (IVVS) for inspecting the Tokamak. This system will allow for 3D mapping of the elements inside the Tokamak to detect any damage or erosion of its components that may occur during its operation. This system is a key element for verifying and monitoring the safety levels of the ITER plant.
Analysis of complementary solutions, design and development of the optical prototype, and implementation of the tests
ASENSE was responsible for analyzing complementary solutions for the IVVS concept, including the design of the optical prototype system and the implementation of the tests. We built an intcon optical test bench, a small-scale prototype to measure the performance and functionality of the piezoelectric sensors and confirm their suitability for the 3D scanning function envisioned by ITER.
For more than four years, ASENSE has been carrying out work for ITER within the framework of this project, together with Veolia Nuclear Solutions (the consortium leader). This work is an extension of the approved IVVS design concept, thanks to the support of F4E and EFDA, and in collaboration with ENEA Frascati Laboratories.
The results – evolution and publications
During the duration of the project, we have had the honor of publishing two articles presenting the advances, discoveries and innovations developed within the framework of the ITER – IVVS project:
- In-vessel viewing system prototype performance measurements and simulation of measurement quality across the ITER in-vessel components (Thomas Siegel, et al., Fusion Engineering and Design, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2019.03.187)
- High-dynamic-range instrument for characterisation of the angledependent reflectivity of ITER plasma-facing components (Proc. SPIE 11485, Reflection, Scattering, and Diffraction from Surfaces VII, 114850O (20 August 2020); doi: 10.1117/12.2567372)
If you are interested in the details, you can order a copy of the articles here:
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If you enjoyed this post on “Tokamak Inspection System,” you might also be interested in reading “Design and Development of Objectives.”