Dutch company to build prototype for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Cryopump
On 13 February the EU launched a contract to build a full size prototype °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ cryogenic vacuum pump through the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA). After a competitive tendering process the Dutch company DeMaCo was awarded the contract. DeMaCo's cooperation with EFDA and the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, is based on its long-lasting experience in Cryo and Vacuum Technology.
The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ machine will contain ten such cryo-pumps that produce the vacuum necessary to operate the torus and the cryostat. The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ torus pumps are unique in that they must function in a fast cyclic mode continuously pumping and regenerating the exhaust of the burning plasma, including the helium produced as a result of fusion.
The pump will take 18 months to build and will undergo a period of intensive testing at the TIMO-2 pump test facility at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe. This prototype pump will enable validation of the design and fabrication methods prior to procuring the main batch of ten pumps for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ.