The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) is an experimental project designed to verify the scientific and technical feasibility of nuclear fusion as a new energy source. The project, currently under construction at Cadarache, involves thirty-five countries. The operating phase is scheduled to begin in 2020. In France, only the Emitech laboratories, which combine expertise and testing resources, are involved, have obtained the Cofrac accreditation needed to test future equipment.
The first tests began in 2014. The Lyon center, whose personnel are qualified to work in a nuclear environment (DATR B), has already passed a series of electromagnetic compatibility tests, in particular on immunity to static magnetic fields, specific to Iter.
The tests are based on the ITER 98JL4W specification: the equipment under test must continue to operate normally when subjected to one of 5 levels of magnetic fields (depending on its distance from the core) ranging from 7.5 mT to 120 mT, as defined in the specifications.
Emitech is equipped with square-section induction coils that generate a magnetic field of 100 mT for 5 minutes every 30 minutes.
Other Group laboratories have already set up "assembly" and "component" seismic test benches: the test subjects equipment to simultaneous horizontal and vertical excitation. The maximum displacement must not exceed 250 mm horizontally and 100 mm vertically for a frequency of 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz.
Several hundred items of equipment for the future reactor will have to be tested. Emitech accompanies the test campaigns throughout France, providing diagnostics, solutions and recommendations for equipment subject to the specific specifications of the Iter project.
Learn more: www.emitech.fr