The last hurdle to the manufacturing of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ's in-wall shielding was cleared this month, with the successful Manufacturing Readiness Review held by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ-India, the Indian Domestic Agency, on 8-10 June.
The Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR) is required by the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization before the start of manufacturing of any component or system. Conducted by the relevant °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Domestic Agency, the MRR ensures that the Domestic Agency and its manufacturer have prepared necessary quality plans for materials and manufacturing; quality procedures; a Manufacturing and Inspection Plan (MIP); a sample material production report for materials; and the necessary mockups to establishing final manufacturing and inspection processes.
All these documents have to be approved by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization before the start of manufacturing.
The Indian Domestic Agency is responsible for manufacturing and delivering approximately 9,000 in-wall shielding blocks. Made of borated steel and ferromagnetic steel and weighing between 160 and 820 kg, these shielding blocks will protect °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ cryostat components from the intense neutron radiation and help optimize the plasma performance by reducing toroidal field ripple. (See .)
The MRR for the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ vacuum vessel in-wall shielding was held by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ-India, the Indian Domestic Agency under the chairmanship of Haresh A. Pathak, with manufacturer M/s. Avasarala Technologies Limited (ATL, Bangalore) and representatives from the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Organization present.
This panel discussed inspection and testing reports of in-wall shielding mockup blocks, as well as the proposed manufacturing processes, the critical dimensions achieved during mockup manufacturing, the assembly of in-wall shielding blocks on a partial mockup of the vacuum vessel, and material requirements. The group also visited the ATL manufacturing facility and inspected in-wall shielding mockup blocks as well as their assembly on the partial mockup of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ vacuum vessel sector.
At the end of the three-day MRR, the panel declared itself to be satisfied with the preparedness of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ-India and ATL in terms of manufacturing and inspection procedures as well as required facilities. Clearance was given to begin the manufacturing of the in-wall shielding blocks.