The TFTR RF Limiter upgrade design and installation

The RF Limiters originally installed at Bays K-L and N-O[1] were upgraded to a new configuration and six new limiters of similar design were added. The RF Limiter upgrade protects the (2) existing RF Launchers and with a minor addition will protect the (2) RF Launchers to be installed in FY92 and will permit 50 Megawatts of auxiliary input power for two seconds during plasma operation. Each of the new RF Limiters are comprised of 18 tiles for a total of 108. The design provides for revised and strengthened supporting mounts because of additional forces induced in the tiles. Tile material is a 2D carbon-carbon composite identical to the original tile material. The channel shaped tile is geometrically the same as the original design. Subassembly of the panels took place outside the vessel in order to minimize exposure levels to the workers. Tooling was designed to replicate the vessel hardpoints and ease the subassembly tasks. Installation of the entire system occurred during the FY 91 opening. Integrated into the design are provisions to eliminate plasma damage to the insulators at the mounts. Detail design philosophy and an overview of the project are addressed by this paper. 2 refs., 2 figs