Progress and achievements of R and D activities for the ITER vacuum vessel

The Full Scale Sector Model Project, which was initiated in 1995 as one of the Seven Large Projects for ITER R and D, has been continued with the joint effort of the ITER Joint Central Team and the Japanese, Russian Federation and United States Home Teams. The fabrication of a full scale 18 deg. toroidal sector, which is composed of two 9 deg. sectors spliced at the port centre, was successfully completed in September 1997 with a dimensional accuracy of ±3 mm for the total height and total width. Both sectors were shipped to the test site at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and the integration test of the sectors was begun in October 1997. The integration test involves the adjustment of field joints, automatic narrow gap tungsten inert gas welding of field joints with splice plates and inspection of the joints by ultrasonic testing, as required for the initial assembly of the ITER vacuum vessel. This first demonstration of field joint welding and the performance test of the mechanical characteristics were completed in May 1998, and all the results obtained have satisfied the ITER design. In addition to these tests, integration with the midplane port extension fabricated by the Russian Home Team by using a fully remotized welding and cutting system developed by the US Home Team was completed in March 2000. The article describes the progress, achievements and latest status of the R and D activities for the ITER vacuum vessel. (author)