°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ

Toroidal field coils

Two make a pair

One of the essential "building blocks" of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Tokamak is the pre-assembly of two toroidal field coils, one vacuum vessel sector and corresponding panels of thermal shielding. Combining these different components into one ~ 1,200-tonne single assembly will be the task of the twin sector sub-assembly tools (SSATs). The operation will be repeated nine times (for nine vacuum vessel sectors) and involve 18 toroidal field coils.
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Travelling along the 104-kilometre-long "°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ Itinerary," convoys transporting highly exceptional loads, such as this toroidal field coil from Japan (TF13), cross through 16 municipalities (here, Saint-Estève Janson).
One by one, the components for the first vacuum vessel pre-assembly are being delivered to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ. Sets of thermal shielding from Korea began arriving in October last year; toroidal field coil #12, procured by Japan, reached the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¸ßÊÖ site on 25 April; and its "partner"—toroidal field coil #13, also from Japan—was received last Friday 3 July. As for the 440-tonne vacuum vessel sector that will be paired to the two Japanese coils—Sector #6—it left the port of Busan, Korea, on 28 June and is expected to reach Marseille industrial harbour before the end of July.
 
In the Assembly Hall, the major tools are standing ready: the upending tool will be used to raise the heaviest elements of pre-assembly from horizontal to vertical; the overhead cranes will transport the vacuum vessel sectors and toroidal field coils in turn to the sector sub-assembly tools; and the sector sub-assembly tools will support all elements during assembly.